Description: Inscribed at bottom centre in pen and black ink: "Valesio" (unknown hand), "Cabinet de Crozat" (Tessin). Numbered: 6 (struck out) in pen and black ink in lower right corner. Numbered: 1013 in pen and black ink in right corner (Sparre)

Catherine Johnston has convincingly demonstrated that our drawing as well as a sheet in the Louvre is a preliminary study or proposal by Tiarini for the embellishment of the apse in "San Domenico" in Bologna. The gothic chapel of the church, containing the tomb of St. Dominic, had been enlarged during the last years of the 16th century and many artists competed to particiapte in its decoration. 
In 1606 Tiarini had returned to Bologna after seven years in Florence and was supported by Ludovico Carracci in his application to paint the apse. Having worked for the Dominicans in Florence he had useful contact with two Dominican brothers, Padre Rossi and Padre Locatelli. Another Bolognese artist, Giovanni Luigi Valesio, however, had more powerful supporters and secured the commission in July 1611; but Valesio's efforts did not meet with the approval of the Fathers and he had to remove his fresco. The commission finally went to Guido Reni whose work, "The Glory of St. Dominic", is still in situ. 
Tiarini's two drawings must date from 1611, the date of the commission. In the Louvre drawing St. Dominic is represented mounting a stair led by two angels while other angels on the left and right are engaged in making music. The Louvre composition is sharply divided by a horizontal band of clouds into two distinct areas. Catherine Johnston suggests that the Stockholm drawing represents a later stage in which the artist has elminated this seemingly unnecessary division of the composition. Tiarini has abstained from repeating the right hand section, concentrating the interest in its central part: the horizontal line of clouds is removed and the stairs extend upwards without interruption. As Johnston notes, the composition is given added drama by the artist's effective use of white highlights on dark paper. [Bjurström, It. Drawings, cat. no. 1640]

Den helige Dominicus uppstigande till himlen