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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 A WORK ASSOCIATED WITH RAPHAEL (URBINO 1483-ROME 1520)

Two of the Three Graces

1858

Albumen print? | RCIN 2864256

A photograph of a drawing depicting two of the Three Graces, a statue housed in the centre of the Piccolomini Library, which is a Roman copy after a Hellenistic original (4th-2nd century BC). This drawing is now in the Gallerie dell'Accademia, Venice (inv. no. 81 recto) and features a study for a woman on the verso (see RCIN 854269 for a photograph of the verso).

The statue is documented as having been in the Library from the beginning of the 16th century, but it was moved out under Pope Pius IX in the 19th century because it was considered not appropriate for that location; it was later moved back to its original place, but then moved out again under Mussolini's regime, before finally being returned to the Library in 1974.

For further information see RCIN 854547, a copy of this photograph in the Prince Consort's Raphael Collection, portfolio 49 (970609)

  • Creator(s)

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

    After a work associated with Bernardino Pinturicchio (c. 1452-1513) (artist)

    Attributed to Florence : Alinari (photographer)

  • Acquired by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert

  • Bibliographic reference(s)

    Gallerie dell' Accademia di Venezia : catalogo dei disegni antichi. v.
    S. Ferino Pagden, Disegni Umbri (1984), pp. 87-88, no. 27 (for the drawing); pp. 13-31 (for the sketchbook)

    Capellen 2001 : Capellen, JM, 2001. Raphael : the paintings. Volume 1, The Beginning in Umbria and Florence ca.1500-1508
    pp.162-5, no. 15

    Chapman/Plazzotta/Henry 2004 : Chapman, H, Plazzotta, C, Henry, T. Raphael. From Urbino to Rome. London, 2004
    pp.23-26

    Joannides 1983 : Joannides, P., 1983. The Drawings of Raphael, with a complete catalogue, Oxford
    nos 56-61