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

AGOSTINO CAPELLI (ACTIVE 19C)

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

c.1800-1876

Engraving with etching | 81.4 x 60.4 cm (sheet of paper) | RCIN 851068

A print after the so-called Sistine Madonna, a painting by Raphael now in the Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister, Dresden (inv. no.93). Lettered state, with production details, title, dedication and dedicatee's arms. Not listed in Ruland's Raphael Collection catalogue (1876). A photograph of the Sistine Madonna can be found at RCIN 851062.

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 detail: begun by Agostino Capelli, completed by Giovanni Berselli
  • Creator(s)

    Agostino Capelli (active 19C) (engraver)

    Giovanni Berselli (active 19C) (engraver)

    After Raphael (1483-1520) (artist)

    Frassinetti (printer)

    Vittorio Emanuele II, King of Italy, King of Sardinia (1820-78) (dedicatee)

    Giovanni Berselli (active 19C) (dedicator)

    Subject(s)

    Pope Sixtus II (d. 258)
    Saint Barbara
    Blessed Virgin Mary
  • 81.4 x 60.4 cm (sheet of paper)

    65.1 x 49.5 cm (image)

    76.4 x 55.3 cm (platemark)

  • MADONNA DI S.SISTO DI RAFAELLO

  • 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
      • 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.4b(add)