Alexander the Great Battles the Indian King Porus
by PERINO DEL VAGA, Pen and brown wash, 195 x 285 mm
Pope Paul III gave the work of frescoing the great hall of the Castel Sant’Angelo to Perino del Vaga who had long been entrusted with the task of decorating papal halls. Perino himself painted just part of the frescoes in the Castel Sant’Angelo, the other parts being done by collaborators following his cartoons. Perino first prepared his own designs, and at least one such draft is preserved for Alexander the Great Battles the Indian King Porus. The painting itself was executed by Marco Pino.