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Prince Albert used photography to document exhibitions and works of art

After a work by the circle of Pietro Perugino (Città della Pieve c. 1450-Fontignano 1523)

The Virgin holding the asleep Child 1858

Albumen print? | RCIN 2864290

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A photograph of a drawing by an artist from the circle of Perugino, formerly attributed to Raphael; part of the 'Libretto Veneziano' now in the Gallerie dell'Accademia, Venice (f.19v).

The photograph shows the half-length Virgin, seated, holding the naked Christ Child who sleeps on her lap.

This drawing is part of the so-called "Libretto di Raffaello" or "Libretto Veneziano", 53 sheets that used to be mounted in a volume. After complicated negotiations, the sketchbook was bought by the Accademia in the 1820s, after the death of Giuseppe Bossi, who was its previous owner. A number of scholars debated the author of the drawings (with many names proposed, such as Pinturicchio, Antonio da Viterbo, Eusebio del Giorgio, Girolamo Genga) and their date. In 1984, the drawings were catalogued as by an artist contemporary to Raphael, whose juvenile works he copied in this sketchbook (see Bibliographic References).

A copy of this photograph (RCIN 851198) can be found in the Prince Consort's Raphael Collection, portfolio 13 (970572)

  • Creator(s)

    After a work by the circle of Pietro Perugino (Città della Pieve c. 1450-Fontignano 1523) (artist)

    After a work previously attributed to Raphael (Urbino 1483-Rome 1520) (artist)

    Attributed to Florence : Alinari (photographer)

    Subject(s)
    Blessed Virgin Mary
  • Acquired by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert

  • Object type(s)
      • visual works
        • photographs
    Subject(s)
    • Religion & Theology
      • Religions and faiths
        • Christianity
          • Devotional Images of Christ
            • Virgin & Child
          • Life of Christ
            • Infancy of Christ
              • Christ Child
  • Bibliographic reference(s)

    Gallerie dell' Accademia di Venezia : catalogo dei disegni antichi. v. S. Ferino Pagden, Disegni umbri (1984); pp.69-70, no.18