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

GIOVANNI FOLO (1764-1836)

The Virgin and Sleeping Child with the Infant Baptist

published 1812

Etching | 36.7 x 26.3 cm (sheet of paper) | RCIN 850794

An etching after a painting when in the collection of Lucien Bonaparte, Rome. Published in Choix de gravures à l'eau forte, d'après les peintures originales et les marbres de la galerie de Lucien Bonapartes, 1812, pl. 129. Lettered with the title and production details. Not listed in Ruland (1876) .

The painting, which later entered the collection of the King of the Netherlands (The Hague), is one of a number reproducing a composition traditionally known as the Madonna del Velo, the original version of which (currently untraced) is thought to have been executed by Raphael’s workshop to a design of the master dating c.1510-12 (see Bibliographic References). Also engraved by Martinet (see RCIN 850786).

Showing the Christ Child sleeping on the left, with the Virgin looking at Him while lifting a veil over His head and supporting the Infant Baptist who kneels down on the right while pointing at the Child; in a landscape.
  • Creator(s)

    Giovanni Folo (1764-1836) (etcher)

    After a work copying Raphael (1483-1520) (artist)

    After a work by the school of Raphael (1483-1520) (artist)

  • 36.7 x 26.3 cm (sheet of paper)

    17.8 x 18.0 cm (circular format) (image)

    27.3 x 20.5 cm (platemark)

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

  • Subject(s)
    • Religion & Theology
      • Religions and faiths
        • Christianity
          • Devotional Images of Christ
            • Virgin & Child
    • Science, Medicine and Technology
      • Industries, Crafts and Trades
        • Clothing
          • Headgear
            • Veils
    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. 278-279, no. A17

    Other number(s)

    Ruland p.64 A.XVIII.10(add)