The Holy family with St. John the Baptist.

Drawing, pen and black ink, heightened with white and brown wash, 34 x 24 cm, brown prepared paper, unsigned (laid down on thick paper support, some stains).

The Roman Baroque painter Giuseppe Passeri (1654-1714) was known for his refined chiaroscuro rendering techniques, often using brown or red prepared paper highlighting the lines with white wash. The present sheet compares to "Aurora on her Chariot" in the British Museum (inv. 1902.0822.9), and the "Madonna and Child in the clouds", in the collection of the Albertina Vienna (inv. 1138). The composition of the latter drawing shows some similarities to our sheet. Passeri was a pupil of Carlo Maretti and was influneced by Carracci, Guido Reni and Poussin in his painting style. He worked mostly for the Roman nobility (e.g. the Barberini family).