Lot Essay
Dr Jörg Merz has kindly pointed out that this drawing is Romanelli's preparatory design for the upper part of the decorative frame of Greuter's thesis print Aureum seculum (B. Kerber, 'Ergänzungen zu Romanelli', Gießener Beiträge zur Kunstgeschichte, VI (1983), p. 56, fig. 4). The portrait medallion shows Cardinal Francesco Barberini, the sponsor of the print. We are grateful for Dr Merz's assistance in preparing this note.