Lazzaro Baldi

Benjamin West (L.419);
bears unidentified collector's mark (L.1160, carefully pasted on the drawing)
Henry Addington (1757-1844), 1st Viscount Sidmouth, Prime Minister from 1801-1804

A few tiny pin holes in various, some thin areas in paper - eg bottom right below seated woman; some stains more visible from verso
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Jörg Merz was the first to suggest the attribution to Baldi and he also noted that the drawing illustrates the Biblical passage, I Peter 3.29, which states that Christ "preached unto the spirits in prison."  Alternatively, the subject could be St. Peter or St. Paul in prison, but neither is usually represented in this way.  Dr. Merz has also made a convincing suggestion that the studies on the verso are connected to the figure of St. John being thrown into boiling oil, in Baldi's fresco in S. Giovanni in Oleo, Rome.  A composition study for that work is at Chatsworth.¹

1.  M. Jaffé, The Devonshire Collection...Roman and Neapolitan Schools, London 1994, p. 42, no. 157, reproduced; for the fresco, see J.M. Merz, Pietro da Cortona und sein Kreis, Munich 2005, p. 314, fig. 344