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

AFTER A WORK COPYING RAPHAEL (URBINO 1483-ROME 1520)

The Virgin and Sleeping Child with the Infant Baptist [‘Madonna del Velo’]

c.1853-76

Albumen print | 24.2 x 22.2 cm (sheet of paper) | RCIN 850790

A photograph of a cartoon formerly attributed to Raphael, once housed in the Uffizi, Florence (inv. no.1774 E) but now lost.

The cartoon resembles a composition traditionally known as the Madonna del Velo, known in many copies, the original version of which is thought to have been painted by Raphael’s workshop after a design by the master dating c.1510-12 (currently untraced; see Bibliographic References).

Showing the Christ Child sleeping on the left; the Virgin looks at Him while lifting the veil over His head with her right hand and supporting the Infant Baptist with her left, who points at the Child.
  • Creator(s)

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

    After a work previously attributed to Raphael (Urbino 1483-Rome 1520) (artist)

  • 24.2 x 22.2 cm (sheet of paper)

  • Acquired for the Prince Consort's Raphael Collection (c.1853-76)

  • 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
        • photographs
  • 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

    Inventario Uffizi. Disegni Esposti II 1987 : Disegni esposti, vol. 2, 1987 / a cura di Annamaria Petrioli Tofani, Florence (Gabinetto disegni e stampe degli Uffizi) pp. 728-729, no. 1774E

    Other number(s)

    Ruland p.64 A.XVIII.6