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Prince Albert used photography to document exhibitions and works of art

After Parmigianino (Parma 1503-Casalmaggiore 1540)

The School of Athens c. 1857

Albumen print? | RCIN 2864429

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A photograph of a drawing by Parmigianino now in the Royal Library at Windsor Castle (RCIN 990533). The drawing reproduces the composition of Raphael's 'School of Athens', but with a few significant differences including the absence of the figure of Heraclitus in the centre foreground. The Windsor sheet also differs from Raphael's cartoon (Ambrosiana, Milan) in a few details (i.e., the inclusion of the relief of Philosophy in the architecture to the right). It has been suggested that the Windsor sheet may be a copy after a lost drawing by Raphael. For further discussion, see Bibliographic References.

A copy of this photograph (RCIN 852545) can be found in the Prince Consort's Raphael Collection, portfolio 26 (970585)
  • Creator(s)

    After Parmigianino (Parma 1503-Casalmaggiore 1540) (artist)

    After a work copying Raphael (Urbino 1483-Rome 1520) (artist)

    Attributed to Charles Thurston Thompson (1816-68) (photographer)

  • Acquired by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert

  • Object type(s)
      • visual works
        • photographs
    Subject(s)
    • Places
      • Europe
        • Italy
          • Lazio [Italy]
            • Rome [Lazio]
              • Vatican City [Rome]
                • Vatican Palace [Vatican City]
                  • Stanza della Segnatura [Vatican Palace]
                    • Vatican-Stanza della Segnatura-School of Athens
  • Bibliographic reference(s)

    Weigel 1865 : Weigel, R., 1865. Die Werke der maler in ihren Hand zeichnungen, 2 vols, Leipzig. vol.2, p.587, no.6962

    P&W : Popham, A.E. & Wilde, J., 1949. The Italian Drawings of the XV and XVI Centuries in the Collection of His Majesty The King at Windsor Castle, London pp.284-5, no.598r

    Haverkamp-Begemann 1988 : Haverkamp-Begemann, E. Creative Copies. Interpretative Drawings from Michelangelo to Picasso, 1988. pp.47-9, no.8 (entry by Judith Cohen)