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Genre

Genre

STEFANO MULINARI (1741-90)

A woman by a window

published 1774

Etching printed in brown | 25.2 x 18.6 cm (sheet of paper) | RCIN 852326

An etching by Stefano Molinari depicting a woman sitting near a window, after a drawing now in the Uffizi, Florence (inv. no. 1973 F), where it is catalogued as by Raphael. This drawing is dated by Joannides 1514 (see Bibliographic References). This print is lettered with the identification of Parmigianino as the inventor of this composition and "N. XIX". Signed by the printmaker. This print was published in "Disegni originali d'eccellenti pittori esistenti nella Real galleria di Firenze: incisi ed imitati nella loro grandezza e colori", published by Molinari in 1774. Trimmed within the platemark. Annotated on the verso.

This drawing was traditionally catalogued as by Parmigianino (Bartsch suggested this print was after a drawing either by Raphael or Parmigianino). More recently, archival documents have proved the attribution of the drawing to Raphael (see Bibliographic References).

The female figure has been variously interpreted as Danae (on the basis of a later inscription on the drawing) or most likely as the representation of St Helena (as in a painting by Paolo Veronese, now in the National Gallery, London, inv. no. NG1041; see RCIN 852329 for a photograph of this painting). According to the story, St Helena, mother of the Emperor Constantine, during her quest to discover the location of the True Cross (the cross on which Christ had been crucified) received divine help whilst dreaming. 

In the drawing the woman is depicted on the left, with various studies for God the Father appearing to Moses and architectural studies for St Peter's Basilica. The first set of studies is connected with the composition of 'Moses before the Burning Bush', designed by Raphael and painted in the vault of the Stanza di Eliodoro in the Vatican.  

  • Creator(s)

    Stefano Mulinari (1741-90) (etcher)

    After a work associated with Marcantonio Raimondi (c. 1480-1534) (engraver)

    After a work attributed to Raphael (Urbino 1483-Rome 1520) (draughtsman)

    After a work previously attributed to Parmigianino (Parma 1503-Casalmaggiore 1540) (draughtsman)

  • 6

  • 25.2 x 18.6 cm (sheet of paper)

  • Added to the Prince Consort's Raphael Collection (c.1853-1876)

  • Subject(s)
    • Science, Medicine and Technology
      • Construction
        • Structural parts of buildings
          • Windows
            • Window sills
    • Religion & Theology
      • Religions and faiths
        • Religions of antiquity
          • Classical mythology
            • Danaë (myth)
  • Bibliographic reference(s)

    p. 441, no. 1973 F (Inventario Uffizi. Disegni Esposti II 1987 : Disegni esposti, vol. 2, 1987 / a cura di Annamaria Petrioli Tofani, Florence (Gabinetto disegni e stampe degli Uffizi) )

    p. 219, no. 342r (Joannides 1983 : Joannides, P., 1983. The Drawings of Raphael, with a complete catalogue, Oxford)

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