(Italian, 1582-1647) 

Peter and Christ on the Sea of Galilee (or Christ Saves Peter from Sinking in the Water), after Giovanni Lanfranco's fresco for the Navicella Altar (Inventory No. 44238) in St Peter's Basilica, The Vatican, Rome by Giovanni Lanfranco, unsigned, circa 1650, oil on canvas, 45-1/4 x 34-1/2 in., (114.3 x 86.36 cm.); modern gilt wood frame, 52-1/4 x 41 in.

Provenance: Collection of a Virginia Gentleman

Note: This painting is a fine period copy of Giovanni Lanfranco's original fresco for the Navicella Altarpiece. No full oil sketches are known for this composition. The present composition has variations which include the addition of angels, water, and an outcropping on the right side. Lanfranco's original creates a powerful composition with figures extending to either side so the addition portion is an interesting inclusion and one that does not appear in the early engravings or the subsequent replacement of the fresco. The Vatican museum, in discussion of this fresco states, "In August 1625, Giovanni Lanfranco petitioned the pope to paint the altarpiece in the New Sacristy. His request was denied, and instead Urban VIII assigned him the job of replacing Castello's altarpiece with another version of the same subject.

Lanfranco began work on the altarpiece in 1627. In view of the deterioration of Castello's altarpiece and of the other five altarpieces painted on slate, Lanfranco opted for a different medium and painted in true fresco. The work was completed by September 17, 1628.

Despite the fact that it was painted in fresco, Lanfranco's Navicella soon showed signs of deterioration, and in 1640 the artist offered to return to Rome in order to "improve" it. The work was restored in 1662 by Raffaele Vanni and again between 1687 and 1694 by Giuseppe Montano. By 1721, it was detached from the wall in an operation that was only partially successful, as the upper portion of the composition was lost in the process, and transferred to the benediction loggia, where it hands today. In 1726, a mosaic replica of Lanfranco's original painting, executed by Pietro Paolo Cristofari after a cartoon by Niccolo Ricciolini, was installed over the altar. A year later, in 1727, Pope Benedict XIII dedicated the altar to God in honor of St Peter, placing inside it relics of Sts. Mansuetus and Honestus." -The Vatican

Brunk Auctions would like to thank expert, Erich Schleier, who stated, "In my opinion this painting is not by Lanfranco, but is a copy of good painterly quality by some able painter of the second half of the 17th century after Lanfranco’s fresco  or after one of the engravings after the altar- fresco..  It would be interesting to try to find out who could have painted this copy, which is of notable quality."  

Brunk Auctions also thanks Dr. Alessandra Rodolfo, Curator, Vatican Museum for her assistance regarding the history of Lanfranco's fresco.

References: Rice, L. (1997). The altars and altarpieces of New St. peter’s: Outfitting the Basilica, 1621-1666. Cambridge University Press.

For the restored portion of Lanfranco's original fresco see: :https://www.patronsvaticanmuseums.org/en/restoration/projects/christ-saves-peter-sinking-water-miracle-st-peter"

lined, restretched on late 19th/early 20th century stretcher, punctures, patches at tears through lining and canvas, losses at bottom,  areas of retouch, some points of overcleaning, stretcher marks, original canvas ground appears to be 18th century or possibly earlier, crackle, craquelure