A study of soldiers on horseback

A photograph of a study by Raphael of soldiers on horseback in the Uffizi Gallery, Florence (inv. no.537E). This drawing is generally considered to be connected to the fresco 'The journey of Enea Silvio Piccolomini to Basle' painted by Pinturicchio and his workshop (1502-07/08) in the Piccolomini Library in Siena Cathedral.

The decoration of the Piccolomini library was commissioned by Cardinal Francesco Todeschino Piccolomini (later Pope Pius III) in 1502 from Raphael's older Perugian contemporary Pinturicchio. The frescoes illustrate events in the life of Pope Pius II (Enea Silvio Piccolomini), the Cardinal's uncle. Vasari credited Raphael with executing 'some drawings and some cartoons' for the library at the express request of Pinturicchio. Scholarly opinion has been divided over the attribution of preparatory drawings for the frescoes, but at least five drawings convincingly related to the decorative scheme are considered to be by Raphael (see Bibliographic References). For a photograph of the finished fresco related to this drawing, see RCIN 853747.