Lot Essay
Nicholas Turner has confirmed the attribution to Maratta on studying the drawing in the original. Mr. Turner dates the drawing to late in Maratta's career, comparing it to the Study for the statue of Saint Matthew in the British Museum (N. Turner, Italian Drawings ... in the British Museum: Roman Baroque Drawings, London, 1999, no. 193). The London drawing is connected to Maratta's designs for the scuplture for the nave of San Giovanni in Laterano, Rome, which were only completed after his death.