Red chalk and pen and brown ink

270 x 190 mm. (10 5/8 x 7 in.)

Volterannos first teacher was Matteo Rosselli, however he was very influenced by the illusionistic fresco work painted by Cortona in the Palazzo Pitti. Volterrano knew of the work of Caravaggio, as a result of trips to Parma, Bologna and Venice (in 1640, 1652 and 1662 respectively). These were financed by the Grand Duke. Volterrano worked on frescoes in numerous palazzos including the Palazzi Niccolini, Capponi and della Gherardesca.

Our drawing is comparable to two urn designs recently on the market1.

1.Jean-Luc Baroni Ltd, Master Drawings, 2003/04, no.20, and Christies New York, 25 January 2005, lot 71.