Baldassarre Franceschini, il Volterrano (Volterra 1611-1690 Florence)

A study for the ceiling fresco in the Colloredo chapel in the church of the Santissima Annunziata, Florence (A. Grassi et al., op. cit., p. 52). According to Baldinucci, the chapel was commissioned by the heirs of the Marquese Fabrizio Coloreto and Volterrano started working on the decoration after 1650 (F. Baldinucci, Notizie de'professori del disegno da Cimabue in qua, Florence, 1681-1728, ed. 1845-7, V, 1847, p. 162). The artist was responsible for a large number of decorations in the Santissima Annunziata which were executed over a period of more than twenty years. A number of studies for these commissions were offered at Sotheby's, London, Drawings by Baldassarre Franceschini, 3 July 1980, lots 16, 37, 41, 43 and 46.