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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)

An antique head in two positions and a reclining Silenus

1860

Albumen print | 10.4 x 16.5 cm (image) | RCIN 2864201

A photograph of a drawing by Raphael (c. 1508-1510) depicting an antique head in two positions and a reclining Silenus now in the Musée des Beaux Arts, Lille (inv. no. 484). Annotated on the verso.

Joannides (see Bibliographic References) interpreted the head as after that of an antique Gaul and as connected to "studies of expression" for the Stanza della Segnatura, frescoed by Raphael in the Vatican between 1508 and 1511. This head was also studied by Raphael in a drawing depicting various sketches for the Stanza della Segnatura now in the Albertina, Vienna (inv. no. 205v, see RCIN 852446 for a photograph of it). The reclining Silenus is also from the antique.

A copy of this photograph (RCIN 854568) can be found in the Prince Consort's Raphael Collection, portfolio 49 (970609)

  • Creator(s)

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

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

  • 10.4 x 16.5 cm (image)

  • Acquired by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert

  • Subject(s)
    • Religion & Theology
      • Religions and faiths
        • Religions of antiquity
          • Classical mythology
            • Silenus
    • Science, Medicine and Technology
      • Medical sciences
        • Anatomy
          • Heads
          • Human anatomy
            • Human Hair
              • Beards
    • Places
      • Europe
        • Italy
          • Lazio [Italy]
            • Rome [Lazio]
              • Vatican City [Rome]
                • Vatican Palace [Vatican City]
  • 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
    p. 191, no. 544

    Joannides 1983 : Joannides, P., 1983. The Drawings of Raphael, with a complete catalogue, Oxford
    p. 200, no. 268