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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)

The head of the Virgin

1860

Albumen print | 13.5 x 9.8 cm (image) | RCIN 2864161

A photograph of a drawing by Raphael (c.1502) now in the Musée des Beaux Arts, Lille (inv. no. 466), depicting the head of the Virgin, possibly for a depiction of the 'Mater Dolorosa', the Virgin at the foot of the Cross.

It has also been suggested that this drawing might be a very early study for the Virgin in the so-called 'Spasimo di Sicilia', a painting by Raphael and his workshop (c.1515-1516) now in the Prado, Madrid (inv. no. 298). See Bibliographic References. See RCIN 850311 for a photograph of the painting.

A copy of this photograph (RCIN 850445) can be found in the Prince Consort's Raphael Collection, portfolio 5 (970564)

  • Creator(s)

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

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

  • 13.5 x 9.8 cm (image)

  • Acquired by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert

  • Subject(s)
    • Science, Medicine and Technology
      • Medical sciences
        • Anatomy
          • Heads
    • Religion & Theology
      • Religions and faiths
        • Christianity
          • Devotional images of the Virgin Mary(Christ absent)
            • Virgin Mary of Sorrows
  • 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. 182, no. 523

    Joannides 1983 : Joannides, P., 1983. The Drawings of Raphael, with a complete catalogue, Oxford
    p. 140, no. 26