Baldassare Franceschini, called Il Volterrano after his city of origin, readily absorbed the innovations of Pietro da Cortona's work, which he studied firsthand at the Palazzo Pitti in Florence. Volterrano traveled to Parma, Bologna and Venice (in 1640, 1652 and 1662, respectively) during which time he familiarized himself with Correggio--Volteranno would in fact be called the "Florentine Correggio." His most celebrated works were frescos for the Medici villa at Petraia and commissions by Vittoria della Rovere for Poggio Imperiale and Palazzo Pitti.
The present sheet bears Volterrano's typical use of pen and ink over graphite in this drawing of a saint attending a swooning figure. While this drawing lacks some of the feathered outlines and frenetic activity of other Volterrano drawings, the density of the figural group on the lower right corner of the sheet is similar to groupings of figures in Volterrano's sketches, particularly those produced in the 1650s.
Isaacs, J. (Jacob), 1896-1973, former owner.
McCrindle, Joseph F., former owner.