The heads of two boys

James Mundy has kindly confirmed the attribution to Federico on examining the original. Dr Mundy notes that while studies of children's heads are often related to projects in Rome in the 1590s, drawings such as the present sheet may date from Federico's period in Florence in 1575-1579, J. Mundy, Renaissance into Baroque, Italian Master Drawings by the Zuccari 1550-1600, Milwaukee, 1990, nos. 75-77.
Two drawings by Cigoli with similar boxed numerals, possibly relating to an early Florentine collection, were sold in these Rooms, 11-13 December 1985, lots 194-195.