Traditionally attributed to Nebbia, the drawing was given subsequently to Orazio Samacchini (1532-1577) and Luca Giordano, as old pen inscriptions on the front of the mount in different hands bear witness. John A. Gere, in 1981, proposed the torrent attribution to Giovanni Guerra. As Elizabeth McGrath and Paul Taylor have kindly pointed out, the pope about to be beheaded is Sixtus II, and the deacon with his hands tied on the right contemplating the execution is S. Laurence, who, according to the Golden Legend asked the pope not to abandon him (Text drawn from Turner, N.: From Michelangelo to Annibale Carracci. A century of Italian drawings from the Prado, Art Services International-Museo Nacional del Prado, 2008, p. 142).