Pen and brown ink, brown wash, upper corners trimmed

123 x 90 mm. (4 7/8 x 3 1/2 in.)

Although little is known about this artist who was active in Perugia and Rome at the end of the sixteenth century a small group of miniatures and drawings can be attributed to him. The past confusion about the personality and name of the art has been solved recently by F.F. Mancini1 and the artist who was formerly referred to as Cesare Pollini is, in fact, Cesare Franchi (called Pollini). Mancini cites many of the drawings that can now be convincingly attributed to Franchi and a further group of drawings relating to the subject of the Holy Family has been published by Mario Di Giampaolo2. There have been a number on the market, including the Holy Family, with Nissman, Abromson, Ltd in 19943.

Other comparable drawings that have been on the market include The Circumcision sold at Christies London, 1 April 1987, lot 103 where there is no red chalk under drawing as in our drawing. Our drawing is comparable in style to one sold at Sothebys London, 3 July 1995, lot 125.

1.Miniatura a Perugia tra Cinquento e Seicento, Perugia, 1987, pp 36-43.

2.Cesare Franchi di Le Pollino: variations sur le theme de la Sainte Famille, in Disegno, Actes du colloque Rennes, Rennes, 1991, pp. 19-24.

3.Nissman, Abromson, Ltd, New York, 7-22 January 1994, Master Drawings 16th 19th Century, number 5.

This is catalogue Number 13, in the on-line e-catalogue of 'Drawings, Prints and Paintings from the Collection of Professor Raymond E. Pahl, FBA (1935-2011)', see here for the catalogue.