A portrait of Bindo Altoviti

An etching after the Portrait of Bindo Altoviti, a painting by Raphael (c.1516-18) now in the National Gallery of Art, Washington DC (Samuel Kress Collection, inv. no.1943.4.33). Lettered with the names of the printmaker and the intermediate draughtsman and the attribution of the painting to Raphael. Lettered with the title which identified Raphael as the sitter. Numbered at bottom right:"100".

This print was published as plate number 100 in 'Serie degli Uomini i più illustri nella pittura, scultura e architettura'. This publication was issued in twelve volumes in Florence between 1769 and 1775. According to the British Museum website (see inv. no. 1874,0613.2091), the original drawing for this print by Ignazio Hugford is in the Uffizi, Florence.

Traditionally the painting was regarded as a self-portrait by Raphael. Its authorship has been disputed, but scholars are now almost unanimous in considering it an authentic work by Raphael. The identification of the sitter as Bindo Altoviti, a banker born in Rome in 1491 but of Florentine origin, is now universally accepted.

A print after this portrait is also included in the "Portraits by Raphael" section of the Raphael Collection; see RCIN 852054 for it.