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

ADOLPHE BRAUN (1812-77)

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

1860-1877

Carbon print | 76.7 x 56.4 cm (sheet of paper) | RCIN 851062

A photograph of the so-called ‘Sistine Madonna’, a painting by Raphael now in the Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister, Dresden (inv. no.93). Not listed in Ruland's Raphael Collection catalogue (1876).

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)

    Adolphe Braun (1812-77) (photographer)

    After Raphael (Urbino 1483-Rome 1520) (artist)

  • 76.7 x 56.4 cm (sheet of paper)

  • Added to the Prince Consort's Raphael Collection (after 1876)

  • 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
      • Zoology
        • Animals
          • Mythical creatures
            • Cherubs
    • Science, Medicine and Technology
      • Home economics
        • Furniture & accessories
          • Curtains
      • Industries, Crafts and Trades
        • Jewellery
          • Tiaras
  • Bibliographic reference(s)

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