The journey of Enea Silvio Piccolomini to Basle

A print by Giovanni Paolo Lasinio reproducing the fresco 'The journey of Enea Silvio Piccolomini to Basle' painted by Pinturicchio and his workshop (1502-07/08) with the aid of a preparatory drawing by Raphael in the Piccolomini Library in Siena Cathedral. Lettered with attribution of the design and execution of the fresco to Raphael and publication details. Dedicated to the Archbishop of Siena, Cardinal Anton Felice Zondadari. Annotated in ink on the verso. Published in 'Raccolta Delle Più Celebri Pitture Esistenti Nella Città Di Siena Disegnate Ed Incise Da Valenti Artisti Con Illustrazioni' (c.1825-38).

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 compositional drawing by Raphael for this fresco, see RCIN 853749.