The drawing comes from the most important collection of drawings by Franceschini,  200 sheets, which appeared with Sotheby’s London July 3, 1980.

Inscribed: “Mano di Batt: Franceschini d: il Volterrano”

Can be considered as a study for the hands of Pope Clement VII, holding the crown of Charles V. This fresco was executed by Franceschini in the Villa Petraia in Castello, Florence, 1636/47. As Franceschini did not have a crown which one of his models could hold, he instead drew the model holding a bowl, which gave the same effect of shape & depth.

Comparative drawings are the 2 red chalks in the Longhi Collection in Florence with the same inscription; the “Study of a Hand” in the Kunsthalle in Bremen (inv.no.42/48), the “Study of 9 Hands” with Sotheby’s London in 1980, the “Study of a Hand” with Sotheby’s NY in 2011, the “Study of 4 Hands” with Sotheby’s London in 2013, the “Study of 2 Hands” with Christie’s Paris in 2003, and the “Hand Holding a Jug” with Sotheby’s London in 1998.