A study for the Ascension for the organ shutters at the Duomo in Milan.

This heavily rubbed chalk drawing was done in preparation for Figino's painting of the Ascension for one of the organ shutters at the Duomo in Milan, which was destroyed in 1944. It shows Christ ascending towards heaven next to an angel on the left. Below two flying angels are visible but in a different position than in the final painting.

Between 1590 and 1595 Figino contributed four of the sixteen enormous canvases to decorate the organ in the cathedral: two single panels of the Nativity and the Ascension and a paired scene of Moses and the Crossing of the Red Sea. The other panels were provided by Giuseppe Meda and Camillio Procaccini. The commission for the four giant canvases was granted to Figino on 7 June 1590, although his work was delayed by illness. The two shutters showing the Crossing of the Red Sea were begun first and presumably completed before the Nativity and the Ascension were undertaken. All of the shutters were probably finished by late 1594, but were not installed after five years later.

For other preparatory drawings for the organ shutters by Figino in the Royal Collection see RCINs 906924, 906931, 906932, and inv.no. 921 at the Accademia in Venice.

Inscribed in pen at lower right: N^o 42 Figino