The birth of Erechtheus

An outline etching by Serafino Cesaretti reproducing the fresco designed by Raphael depicting the birth of Erechtheus on the east wall of the stufetta, or bathroom, in the apartments of Cardinal Bibbiena in the Vatican Palace. The stufetta was frescoed with mythological subjects by Raphael's workshop c.1516. Lettered with attribution of the composition to Raphael, the engraver's signature and title at bottom. Annotated on verso. On watermarked paper.

The National Art Library holds a volume containing 13 unnumbered plates which comprise 12 outline etchings after frescoes by Raphael and a view of Cardinal Bibbiena's bathroom (see RCIN 853856 for another impression of this view); most of the prints are signed by Cesaretti, with two signed by Ferdinando Mori.

Cardinal Bibbiena had a close friendship with Raphael, patronising him on a number of occasions and, it would seem, facilitating the betrothal of the artist to his niece. In addition to the stufetta, Raphael's workshop also painted Cardinal Bibbiena's loggia. Both spaces were designed in a manner imitating ancient Roman painted decoration, and included depictions of episodes from Ovid, grotesques and ornamental motifs. The stufetta was rediscovered in the nineteenth century and survives in a much damaged form today; the loggetta was not rediscovered until the twentieth century.