Allan Ramsay’s great admiration for the work of Rome’s leading portrait painter, Pompeo Batoni, led him to produce a series of copies of some of Batoni’s most important works. This meticulous drawing of 'Christ in Glory' is based on the central figure in Batoni’s altarpiece depicting the same subject, painted for the church of Saints Celso and Guiliano in Rome. The original painting was completed in 1738 but Ramsay’s copy was not produced until his second visit to Italy of 1754-7, when he renewed his acquaintance with the artist.