Study for St. Peter's 'Cattedra'

Workshop of Gian Lorenzo Bernini Italian, 1598-1680
Not On View
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About the Artwork

In 1657, Pope Alexander VII recorded in his diary that he had spoken with the architect and sculptor Gian Lorenzo Bernini, who had agreed to design a new altar to hold the relic of the Chair of Saint Peter. This wooden chair was believed to be the throne of Saint Peter, the first Bishop of Rome. Bernini initially estimated the project would take at least two years, but he spent almost a decade — from 1657 to 1666 — designing and completing the monumental altar in St. Peter’s Basilica, Rome. An unidentified artist working in Bernini’s studio created this detailed drawing for presentation and design approval between March 1657 and April 1658. Soon thereafter, Bernini and his workshop made a three-dimensional terracotta model, now in the Detroit Institute of Arts’ collection.

Study for St. Peter's 'Cattedra'

1658

Workshop of Gian Lorenzo Bernini

1598-1680

Italian

Unknown

Pen and brown ink and wash, heightened with white, over black chalk

Overall: 20 × 13 1/4 inches (50.8 × 33.7 cm)

Drawings

Prints, Drawings & Photographs

Museum Purchase, Ralph H. Booth Bequest Fund

2018.21

Public Domain

Markings

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Provenance

(Sotheby's, New York, New York, USA)

2018-present, purchase by the Detroit Institute of Arts (Detroit, Michigan, USA)

For more information on provenance and its important function in the museum, please visit:

Provenance page

Exhibition History

Please note: This section is empty

The exhibition history of a number of objects in our collection only begins after their acquisition by the museum, and may reflect an incomplete record.

We welcome your feedback for correction and/or improvement.

Suggest Feedback

Published References

Please note: This section is empty

We regularly update our object record as new research and findings emerge, and we welcome your feedback for correction and/or improvement.

Suggest Feedback

Catalogue Raisoneé

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Credit Line for Reproduction

Workshop of Gian Lorenzo Bernini, Study for St. Peter's 'Cattedra', 1658, pen and brown ink and wash, heightened with white, over black chalk. Detroit Institute of Arts, Museum Purchase, Ralph H. Booth Bequest Fund, 2018.21.

Study for St. Peter's 'Cattedra': Main View of Collection Gallery
Study for St. Peter's 'Cattedra': 1 of Collection Gallery Study for St. Peter's 'Cattedra': 2 of Collection Gallery Study for St. Peter's 'Cattedra': 3 of Collection Gallery
Study for St. Peter's 'Cattedra'
Study for St. Peter's 'Cattedra'