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Exhibitions and records of works of art

Prince Albert recognised the importance of photography to record and document notable exhibitions and works of art

AFTER RAPHAEL (URBINO 1483-ROME 1520)

A letter from Raphael to Domenico Alfani

1860

Albumen print | 7.9 x 23.2 cm (image) | RCIN 2864151

A photograph of the upper portion of a sheet currently in the Musée des Beaux-Arts, Lille (inv. no.459 v) on which is a drawing and a letter by Raphael. Annotated on the verso.

The photograph shows a letter written by Raphael and addressed to his associate, Domenico Alfani. The letter refers to the commission of the so-called 'Baglioni Entombment', which Raphael completed in 1507. The painting is now in Galleria Borghese, Rome (inv. no.170). See RCIN 850288 for a photograph of the painting.

On the recto of this sheet is a study by Raphael which the master provided Domenico Alfani with as a modello for a painting executed by the latter in 1511 and now in the Galleria Nazionale, Perugia. For a photograph of the recto, see RCIN 851226. For a photograph of Alfani's painting, see RCIN 851228.

A photograph of this letter is also included in the "Holy Families" section of the Raphael Collection; see RCIN 851227 for it.

A copy of this photograph (RCIN 850151) can be found in the Prince Consort's Raphael Collection, portfolio 1 (970560)

  • Creator(s)

    After Raphael (Urbino 1483-Rome 1520) (artist)

    Attributed to Robert Jefferson Bingham (1825-70) (photographer)

  • 7.9 x 23.2 cm (image)

  • Acquired by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert

  • Subject(s)
    • Organisation
      • Form of documents
        • Correspondence
  • Bibliographic reference(s)

    Brejon de Lavergnée 1997 : Brejon de Lavergnée, B, 1997. Catalogue des dessins Italiens. Collections du Palais des Beaux-Arts de Lille, Paris
    pp.184-5, no.459

    Joannides 1983 : Joannides, P., 1983. The Drawings of Raphael, with a complete catalogue, Oxford
    p.175, no.174v

    Raphael et l'art francais 1983-84 : Hommage a Raphael. Raphael et l'art francais (Galeries nationales du Grand Palais, Paris, 15 novembre 1983-13 fevrier 1984)
    pp.223-4, no.54