Inscribed in ink in a contemporary hand Giovanni d'Udine in the Vatican; and in chalk 103

• Undated

Pen, white bodycolour on grey washed paper 278 x 532

Ludovico Tesi (attributed to)

This drawing is the counterpart to Adam vol.26/203, which is inscribed with the words 'Lodovico Tesi delin.^t'; they were possibly acquired by James Adam in Rome. Both drawings are described on the bound list as 'Remove'd from Volume 14, when it was rebound in 1913'; the handwriting is that of Walter Spiers (Sir John Soane's Museum curator 1904-17), who produced a catalogue of the Adam volumes in 1909 that included these drawings in volume 14. They were presumably transferred here because they were considered the odd-men-out in a volume otherwise composed of ceilings and wall decorations by Robert Adam. However, the two drawings attributed to Ludovico Tesi were with schemes of Giuseppe Manocchi (c.1731-82) (see Adam vol.14/96-103 and 14/106-110), and Tesi may have had some connection with Manocchi. The English inscription on both drawings suggests they were made with the British market in mind. Spiers may also have had some reason or evidence for associating these two drawings with James Adam, apart from their connection with the Vatican logge. Tesi was a relation of the more distinguished Mauro Tesi (1730-66) whom James Adam probably met in Bologna in 1760 (see J. Fleming, Robert Adam and His Circle in Edinburgh & Rome, London, 1962, p.275). Alternatively, he may be Ludovico Tesi, 1731-82, who was a pupil of Pompeo Batoni (1708-87).

Drawing

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