A group of vintagers

A photograph reproducing a drawing stated by Ruland (1876) as being once in the collection of Dr Wellesley. This is a copy of a pen and ink drawing by Raphael depicting a group of vintagers now in the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford (inv. no. WA1846.165). For a photograph of another copy of the same drawing, see RCIN 852287. Annotated on the verso.

Parker (see Bibliographic References) in the catalogue of the Italian drawings at the Ashmolean Museum notes that both copies are by the so-called Calligraphic Forger.

Joannides (see Bibliographic References) suggested that this drawing was probably en suite with another drawing by Raphael in the Ashmolean Museum (inv. no. WA1846.166), perhaps for the decoration of a musical instrument (see RCIN 852283 for a photograph of WA1846.166). Parker also writes: "The fact that the drawing is squared for enlargement and transfer confirms the belief that it was intended for some decorative purpose".

The Faun (the figure in the middle) appears to derive from the Antique and in particular from a scene on the main body of the so-called Piranesi Vase, found in Hadrian's Villa (now in the British Museum, inv. no. 1868,0512.1). The drawing also features some studies for a child in black chalk that Parker assigned to Raphael.