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Vatican Frescoes

Vatican Frescoes

MARCANTONIO RAIMONDI (C. 1480-1534)

Alexander Preserving the Works of Homer

c. 1520

Engraving | 25.4 x 39.9 cm (sheet of paper) | RCIN 852517

An engraving based upon a drawing attributed to Raphael now in the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford (inv. no.WA1935.152). First state. Signed with empty tablet at lower centre.

The composition is that of a small grisaille fresco painted below the Parnassus in the Stanza della Segnatura in the Vatican. The drawing now in the Ashmolean differs from both the engraving and the fresco in only minor details. Scholars have long debated whether the drawing was made specifically for the engraving or for the grisaille fresco, or whether it was copied from the latter. The drawing is now generally accepted as a preparatory study for the fresco, later engraved by Raimondi. For further discussion, see Bibliographic References.
  • Creator(s)

    Marcantonio Raimondi (c. 1480-1534) (engraver)

    After Raphael (1483-1520) (artist)

    Subject(s)

    Alexander the Great (356 BC-323 BC)
    Homer (active 850 BC?)
  • 25.4 x 39.9 cm (sheet of paper)

  • Added to the Prince Consort's Raphael Collection (c.1853-76)

  • Subject(s)
    • Language, Linguistics and Literature
      • Literature
        • Poetry
    • Places
      • Europe
        • Italy
          • Lazio [Italy]
            • Rome [Lazio]
              • Vatican City [Rome]
                • Vatican Palace [Vatican City]
                  • Stanza della Segnatura [Vatican Palace]
    Object type(s)
      • visual works
        • prints
  • Bibliographic reference(s)

    Raphael Invenit 1985 : G. Bernini Pezzini et al., Raphael Invenit. Stampe di Raffaello nelle Collezioni dell'Istituto Nazionale per la Grafica, Rome, 1985 p.37, no.III.1 (entry by Stefania Massari)

    Höper 2001 : Höper, C. Raffael und die Folgen, Hatje Cantz Verlag, 2001 pp.385-7, no.F 5.1

    Other number(s)

    Ruland p.189 C.II.1