The Procession to Calvary [‘The Colonna Altarpiece’, predella centrepiece]

A reversed engraving after a painting which at the time of the print was in the collection of the Duc d’Orléans and that Ruland (1876) catalogued as being then in the possession of Sir W. Miles of Leigh Court, near Bristol. This painting is now in the National Gallery, London (inv. no.NG 2919). Lettered with title and production details. Published in ‘Recueil de Crozat’, 1729, I, 26.

The painting is one of the three panels forming the predella of the so-called ‘Colonna Altarpiece’ painted by Raphael (c.1504-05) for the Nunnery of Sant’Antonio da Padua, Perugia. The central panel of the altarpiece is now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York (inv. no.32.130.1; see RCIN 850667 for a photograph of the painting).

Showing Christ bearing his cross encircled by soldiers and helped by Simon of Cyrene; on the right are St John and the swooning Virgin being supported by the three Maries; on the left two horsemen.