Christ among the Doctors

An aquatint of a drawing then in the collection of Sir Joshua Reynolds, attributed on plate to Raphael. The print was published in C.M. Metz, 'Imitations of Ancient and Modern Drawings', London (first edition published in 1789, the second in 1798). Lettered with title and attribution to Raphael. Signed by the printmaker. Annotated on the verso.

This print is a reverse copy of the lower half of a drawing depicting Christ among the Doctors now in the British Museum (inv. no.1857,0520.63). The attribution of the drawing is a matter of dispute: traditionally believed to be by Raphael, it was thought by Ruland to be by Andrea del Sarto. Pouncey and Gere (see Bibliographic References) do not reject the attribution to Raphael. This composition is known through other drawings, which indicates that it was well known in the area of Bologna and Ferrara at the beginning of the 16th century.