This website presents our knowledge and research on this important aspect of the Royal Collection. As of April 2026 it will not be regularly updated and new research on this topic will sit within the main website.

Portraits

Portraits

AFTER RAPHAEL (1483-1520)

A letter from Raphael to Domenico Alfani

c.1853-1876

Albumen print | 7.5 x 23.3 cm (sheet of paper) | RCIN 850151

A photograph of the upper portion of a sheet currently in the Musée des Beaux-Arts, Lille (inv. no.459 v) on which is a drawing and a letter by Raphael. Annotated on the verso.

The photograph shows a letter written by Raphael and addressed to his associate, Domenico Alfani. The letter refers to the commission of the so-called 'Baglioni Entombment', which Raphael completed in 1507. The painting is now in Galleria Borghese, Rome (inv. no.170). See RCIN 850288 for a photograph of the painting.

On the recto of this sheet is a study by Raphael which the master provided Domenico Alfani with as a modello for a painting executed by the latter in 1511 and now in the Galleria Nazionale, Perugia. For a photograph of the recto, see RCIN 851226. For a photograph of Alfani's painting, see RCIN 851228.

A photograph of this letter is also included in the "Holy Families" section of the Raphael Collection; see RCIN 851227 for it.

  • Creator(s)

    After Raphael (1483-1520) (author)

    Subject(s)

    Raphael (1483-1520)
  • annotation: middle [verso, centre top, in ink]

  • 7.5 x 23.3 cm (sheet of paper)

  • Acquired for the Prince Consort's Raphael Collection (c.1853-76)

  • Subject(s)
    • Organisation
      • Form of documents
        • Correspondence
    Object type(s)
      • visual works
        • photographs
  • Bibliographic reference(s)

    Brejon de Lavergnée 1997 : Brejon de Lavergnée, B, 1997. Catalogue des dessins Italiens. Collections du Palais des Beaux-Arts de Lille, Paris pp.184-5, no.459

    Joannides 1983 : Joannides, P., 1983. The Drawings of Raphael, with a complete catalogue, Oxford p.175, no.174v

    Raphael et l'art francais 1983-84 : Hommage a Raphael. Raphael et l'art francais (Galeries nationales du Grand Palais, Paris, 15 novembre 1983-13 fevrier 1984) pp.223-4, no.54

    Other number(s)

    Ruland p.12 B.II.3