Venus and Vulcan

A photograph of a drawing now in the Royal Library, Windsor Castle (RCIN 990303), where it is currently attributed to the School of Raphael. The drawing corresponds closely to an angraving by Agostino Veneziano (RCIN 851776), but in reverse. Although smaller in scale, suggestions have been made that the drawing may have been used as the model for the engraving.

According to Passavant (1860, II, p.578, under no.46), the original design is to be attributed to Raphael, from whom it was commissioned by Giovanni Battiferri, who wished to have it frescoed by Vincenzo da Gimignano on the façade of his house in the Vatican Borgo, Rome.

The composition is also known through a handful of works, including a small painting attributed to the School of Giulio Romano (inv. no.424) and two drawings (inv. nos.3657, 3478), all of which are now in the Musée du Louvre, Paris. Another drawing of the same subjects exists in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London (inv. no.D.844-1886), and a further one was catalogued by Ruland (1876) as being then in the collection of Mr Tiffin, London. A photograph of the latter at RCIN 851779.

A copy of this photograph (RCIN 851780) can be found in the Prince Consort's Raphael Collection, portfolio 17 (970576)