Holy Family with St Elizabeth and the Young John the Baptist [‘The Madonna della Gatta’]

A print after the so-called ‘Madonna della Gatta’, a painting attributed to Giulio Romano now in the Museo e Gallerie Nazionali di Capodimonte, Naples (inv. no.140). State before all lettering. The name of the designer is annotated in pencil at lower left, that of the engraver at lower right.

The composition of the 'Madonna della Gatta' is based on the so-called ‘La Perla, a painting now in the Museo del Prado, Madrid (inv. no.301) generally ascribed to Giulio Romano (c.1518-19), possibly after a design by Raphael. For a photograph of the 'Madonna della Gatta', see RCIN 851022. A photograph of the 'La Perla' can be found at RCIN 851004.

Showing the full-length seated Virgin supporting the Christ Child with her right arm and putting her left on the back of St Anne, who is crouched beside her on the right, with the young John the Baptist offering fruit on the left and St Joseph standing in the background; a cat and a dog on the right; in an interior.