Italian Master, 17th Century (Probable) , Study with Four Saints

This compelling oil sketch exemplifies the energetic preparatory techniques and painterly freedom characteristic of 17th-century Italian sacred art, likely functioning as a bozzetto or preparatory model for a larger altarpiece. Executed with rapid, expressive brushstrokes on paper mounted on cardboard, the work displays a rich, dramatic chiaroscuro that highlights the sculptural quality and theatricality of the figures.
The composition brings together four distinct saintly figures in an engaging dialogue imbued with the spirit of the Italian Baroque. On the far left stands a youthful soldier-saint clad in historical armor and a flowing reddish cloak, followed by a bearded monk holding a cross and sword. To the right, Saint John the Baptist gestures upward with his characteristic reed cross, standing beside a richly vestured bishop wearing a mitre and heavily embroidered garments.
The sketchy, immediate execution, vibrant impasto, and deep tonal contrasts point toward an Italian master of the 17th century who prioritized dynamic movement, emotional intensity, and loose painterly handling over rigid academic finish, reflecting the core traditions of the peninsular schools. Oil on paper laid down on cardboard