Francesco Chiozzi (Casalmaggiore, 1730-1785). "The Madonna and Child in Glory with Saints" pen, brown ink, and brown wash on paper, n.d. Inscription from previous owner on verso identifying artist. An impressive drawing by Italian artist Francesco Chiozzi depicting the Virgin Mary and Baby Jesus aloft clouds surrounded by saints, all within an inscribed arch. Christ strides forward, raising his right hand in a blessing gesture as his mother and adoptive father, Saint Joseph, gaze lovingly upon him. Given the inscribed grid and arch, this drawing may have served as a fresco cartoon or been a commissioned copy of another fresco, as Chiozzi was known to do for English patrons in Rome from 1759 to 1767. Size of drawing: 12.25" W x 8.75" H (31.1 cm x 22.2 cm); of mounting paper: 19.75" W x 12.5" H (50.2 cm x 31.8 cm)

Abate Francesco Antonio Chiozzi, an Italian painter and Franciscan cleric, was born in Casalmaggiore, where he was initially trained by a local priest, Giuseppe Moreschi. By 1748, Chiozzi completed a Stations of the Cross for the church of San Giovanni Battista, moving on to paint a number of portraits for individuals in Casalmaggiore in 1749. He moved to a studio in Bologna in 1750, soon working with Vittorio Bigari, and obtaining commissions to make copies of medallions in the possession of the Aldrovandi family. In Bologna, his "Abraham expels Hagar and Ishmael" won a first prize at the Clementine Academy of Fine Arts for figure. He also painted frescoes for the Convent of the Servites della Fontana in Casalmaggiore. In 1755 he entered the Franciscan order but did not stop painting. In 1755, he painted a portrait of Maria Amalia, Duchess of Parma, to celebrate the naming of Chiozzi's native town as a city.

Accompanied by Royal Athena label reading: "Francesco Chiozzi (Casalmaggiore 1725-ca. 1785) The Madonna in Glory with Saints. Pen and brown ink, brown wash; inscribed arch. Ex Capt. C. Prayer (L. 2044), Milan (1826-1900: J. & F. Bernasconi, Geneva / Prayer's inscription identifies the artist as a priest from Casalmaggiore / Ex Coll. Juan and Felix Bernasconi, Milan and Geneva."