A vibrant preparatory sketch in oil, this bozzetto by Jacopo Paolo Marieschi captures the charitable act of Saint John the Merciful as he distributes alms to the poor and needy gathered around him. The loose, energetic brushwork typical of a bozzetto conveys a sense of immediacy and spontaneity, with warm tones and dynamic figures arranged in a scene of compassionate generosity. The composition reflects the Venetian Baroque tradition, blending religious devotion with a vivid human drama that would have served as a foundation for a larger, more finished work.