Giovanni Baglione

Sale, London, Christie's, 27 November 1973, lot 232 (as Milanese School, circa 1600);
with Kate de Rothschild, London, Exhibition of Old Master Drawings, 1975, no. 22 (as Baglione), purchased by Ralph Holland

Newcastle, 1982, no. 40

M. Smith O'Neil, Giovanni Baglione, Cambridge 2002, pp. 241-2, no. 23, reproduced p. 80,  pl. 40 

Laid down on an old English mount. There are several small losses due to silverfish scattered around but especially to the left and top margins. These have been coloured and are not very noticeable. Only few of them are on the drawn section. Surface slightly rubbed.
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Philip Pouncey was the first to recognise this study, which had been sold as Milanese School, as the work of Giovanni Baglione and connected to his altarpiece in the church of Santa Cecilia in Trastevere, Rome.  The painting, representing St. Peter and St. Paul, seems to be the only work by the artist still in its original location.  The decoration of the church was completed for the feast day of St. Cecilia in November 1600, terminus ante quem for the execution of the altarpiece.  This, which is the only known study for the painting, must be one of the final drawings made in preparation for the painted version;  lightly squared in red chalk, it shows only minor differences from the final altarpiece.  Baglione mentions this commission from the powerful and influential Cardinal Paolo Sfondrato (1561-1618)¹ in his own biography, part of his famous publication Le Vite de' pittori e scultori et architetti.² 

An offset after Baglione in pen and ink for both figures of the apostles, in reverse, was recognised by Philip Pouncey at Windsor.³

1.  For more information on Sfondrato, see M. Smith O'Neil, op. cit., pp. 75-82
2.  Rome 1642, p. 40
3.  Royal Collection, inv. no. 5107; A. Blunt, Supplement to the catalogues of Italian and French Drawings..., in E. Schilling, The German Drawings...at Windsor Castle, London 1971, p. 49, no. 20