Venus and Vulcan

An engraving after a design which - according to Passavant - was commissioned from Raphael by Giovanni Battiferri, who wished to have it frescoed by Vincenzo da Gimignano on the façade of his house in the Vatican Borgo, Rome. First state. In a tablet at lower left are the engraver's monogram (A.V.) and date (1530), accompanied by attribution of the design to Raphael.

The composition is also known through a handful of works, including a small painting attributed to the School of Giulio Romano (inv. no.424) and two drawings (inv. nos.3657, 3478), all of which are now in the Musée du Louvre, Paris. Drawings of the same subject are also in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London (inv. no.D.844-1886), and in the Royal Library at Windsor Castle (RCIN 990303). Ruland (1876) listed a further drawing of this subject as being then in the collection of Mr Tiffin, London; a photograph at RCIN 851779.