Sketch for the Birth of St John the Baptist
by SALVIATI, Cecchino del, Pen, ink and brown wash, 114 x 173 mm
Salviati decided to depict just one scene each in the large wall expanses between the windows in the Oratorio di San Giovanni Decollato in Rome. In accordance with this he modified Perino del Vaga’s composition in his Visitation fresco, and made a new drawing, shown in the present picture, for the Birth of St John the Baptist. This drawing took into account the changed format.