Although long attributed to Pier Leone Ghezzi, this sheet appears to be from a large group of forgeries that first appeared in Milan in the 1940s. Other works from the group are found in museum collections in Europe and America (see also Minneapolis Institute of Art, no. 69.53, for example). The drawings, radically different in style from authentic Ghezzi caricatures, were said to be youthful works by the artist, an argument particularly unconvincing with regard to this sheet: Carlo Goldoni only came to prominence during the final decade of Ghezzi's life.