Hercules and Antaeus

A chiaroscuro woodcut reproducing a composition the authorship of which is disputed. Only state. Signed on plate at lower right: VGO. Lettered at upper left with attribution of the design to Raphael: RAPHAEL / VRBINAS. Laid down on a cardboard with pencil annotations on both sides. Some scholars support the traditional attribution of the design to Raphael (Oberhuber/Gnann 1999, pp.110-11), whereas others have suggested a derivation from a drawing by Giulio Romano (Raphael Invenit 1985, p.248, VII.1). Disagreement also exists as to whether the chiaroscuro by Ugo da Carpi was made after the original design or after the engraving of the same subject (but in reverse) by Raimondi, an impression of which can be found at RCIN 851837. Suggestions have also been made that both prints may derive from the same original design (Raphael Invenit 1985, p.248, no.VII.3). For further discussion, see Bibliographic References.