This website presents our knowledge and research on this important aspect of the Royal Collection. As of April 2026 it will not be regularly updated and new research on this topic will sit within the main website.

Holy Families & Madonna and Child

Holy Families & Madonna and Child

FRIEDRICH MÜLLER (1782-1816)

The Virgin and Child with Saints and Angels ['The Sistine Madonna']

c.1802-1806

Engraving with etching | 86.9 x 65.8 cm (sheet of paper) | RCIN 851061

A print after the so-called Sistine Madonna, a painting by Raphael (c.1512-13) now in the Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister, Dresden (inv. no.93). Lettered state, with dedicatee's coat of arms.

Showing the full-length Virgin standing on clouds and holding the Christ Child in her arms, flanked by St Pope Sixtus on the left and St Barbara on the right, with two upward-looking winged cherubs at lower centre; the composition is framed by open curtains.
  • Creator(s)

    Friedrich Müller (1782-1816) (engraver)

    After Raphael (1483-1520) (artist)

    Appolonie Seydelmann (1767-1840) (designer)

    Dresden : Rittner (publisher)

    Ramboz : [Paris?] (printer)

    Frederick August I, King of Saxony (1750-1827) (dedicatee)

    Friedrich Müller (1782-1816) (dedicator)

    Subject(s)

    Pope Sixtus II (d. 258)
    Saint Barbara
    Blessed Virgin Mary
  • 86.9 x 65.8 cm (sheet of paper)

    64.8 x 49.6 cm (image)

    75.9 x 55.0 cm (platemark)

  • LA MADONNA DI S. SISTO DI RAFAELLO.

  • Added to the Prince Consort's Raphael Collection (c.1853-76)

  • Subject(s)
    • Religion & Theology
      • Religions and faiths
        • Christianity
          • Devotional Images of Christ
            • Virgin & Child
          • Angels, demons, devils, saints
            • Saints (Christianity)
          • Life of Christ
            • Infancy of Christ
              • Christ Child
    • Natural Sciences & Mathematics
      • Biological sciences
        • Zoology
          • Animals
            • Mythical creatures
              • Cherubs
    • Science, Medicine and Technology
      • Home economics
        • Furniture & accessories
          • Curtains
      • Industries, Crafts and Trades
        • Jewellery
          • Tiaras
    Object type(s)
      • visual works
        • prints
  • Bibliographic reference(s)

    Capellen 2005 : Capellen, JM, 2005. Raphael : the paintings. Volume 2, The Roman Religious Paintings ca.1508-1520 pp. 107-116, no. 53

    Other number(s)

    Ruland p.80 A.XL.1