The saint standing to front, his left arm resting on the sword, his right holding a book; a larger study of his head to the right.

An old label attached to the back of the old mount was inscribed Perino del Vaga, but the drawing has little to do with Perino's style. Popham (1949) recorded and tentatively accepted P. Pouncey's suggested attribution to Polidoro. Ravelli (Polidoro Caldara da Caravaggio, 1978) suggested by a 'collaborator' of Polidoro. N. Turner (orally) suggested the circle of Guido Reni. The drawing is perhaps by the same hand as a drawing at Christie's NY, 24 Jan 2001, attributed to Pirro Ligorio.

On the verso is an outline sketch of the Madonna and Child, in black chalk.