Domenico Piola (Genoa 1627-1703)

The attribution to Domenico Piola was confirmed by Mary Newcome Schleier in 2003, who noted that it is a more elaborate version of one at the Hessisches Landesmuseum Darmstadt (inv. AE1815, U. Knapp, Genueser Zeichnungen des 16. bis 18. Jahrhunderts im Hessischen Landesmuseum Darmstadt, Darmstadt, 1990, no. 69, as Anton Maria Piola). She also noted that, given the drawing's highly finished character and Latin inscription, it could be a study for a frontispiece.