Description: Inscribed in lower margin in pen and brown ink: Del Sig Sabastian Rizzi ma est donné par Il Sig Ant Maria Zanetti qondam Gerolim . . . mearquant a Venise tres fameaux dilectant 

After four years in England (1712-16), Ricci returned home via Paris, where Pierre Crozat introduced him to Watteau. He was greatly impressed by the young French artist and even copied some of his drawings.

This sheet also reflects the influence of Watteau, though no direct link has been found with the latter's work. A further complication is the fact that the girl's costume dates rather from the 1620s or 1630s. There are also certain characteristics in the drawing that remind one of Rubens - heavy accents around the mouth, tip of the nose and eyes. We know of several copies after Rubens in this spirit by Watteau and the present sheet can no doubt be regarded as a pastiche or copy after Rubens in the spirit of Watteau.  [Bjurström, It. Drawings, cat. no. 213]