The present drawing relates to an engraving executed by Marcantonio Raimondi, whose print depicts the apostle in reverse.
1 In terms of the drawing's relationship to the engraving, which is quite close, suggesting that it served as the
modello, one would place this in Pupini's early years, circa 1530. The choice of medium is one that Pupini employed in many of his drawings and a similar technique can be seen in his design for an altarpiece, see lot 122 below. The technique of energetic pen work and wash heightened with white, often on coloured paper, demonstrates the artist's debt to Polidoro da Caravaggio, whose works he frequently copied.
1. Bartsch XIX, 118, 132