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Raphael was especially esteemed for his Madonna and Child compositions

Guglielmo Napolitano Morghen (active c. 1780-1825)

Holy Family with St Elizabeth and the Young John the Baptist [‘The Madonna della Gatta’] c.1780-1825

Etching and engraving | 60.0 x 46.1 cm (sheet of paper) | RCIN 851021

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A print after the so-called Madonna della Gatta, a painting attributed to Giulio Romano now in the Museo e Gallerie Nazionali di Capodimonte, Naples (inv. no.140). State before all lettering. The name of the designer is annotated in pencil at lower left, that of the engraver at lower right.

The composition of the Madonna della Gatta is based on the so-called ‘La Perla, a painting now in the Museo del Prado, Madrid (inv. no.301) generally ascribed to Giulio Romano (c.1518-19), possibly after a design by Raphael. For a photograph of the Madonna della Gatta, see RCIN 851022. A photograph of La Perla can be found at RCIN 851004.

Showing the full-length seated Virgin supporting the Christ Child with her right arm and putting her left on the back of St Anne, who is crouched beside her on the right, with the young John the Baptist offering fruit on the left and St Joseph standing in the background; a cat and a dog on the right; in an interior.
  • Creator(s)

    Guglielmo Napolitano Morghen (active c. 1780-1825) (engraver)

    After Giulio Romano (Rome c. 1499-Mantua 1546) (artist)

    Paolino Girgenti (active c. 1790) (designer)

    Subject(s)
    Saint Anne
    Saint Joseph
    Blessed Virgin Mary
  • annotation: Paolino Girgenti del. / G. Morghe inc. [front, lower left and lower right, beneath image, in pencil]
  • 60.0 x 46.1 cm (sheet of paper)

    49.2 x 41.2 cm (image)

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

  • Object type(s)
      • visual works
        • prints
    Subject(s)
    • Religion & Theology
      • Religions and faiths
        • Christianity
          • Devotional Images of Christ
            • Virgin & Child
              • Virgin & Child with Saints
                • Virgin & Child with Saints-Holy Family
          • Life of Christ
            • Infancy of Christ
              • Christ Child
    • Science, Medicine and Technology
      • Home economics
        • Furniture & accessories
          • Beds
            • Cradles
      • Agriculture and related techniques
        • Animal husbandry
          • Cats (domestic)
  • Other number(s)

    Ruland p.78 A.XXXVII.21

    Bibliographic reference(s)

    Henry/Joannides 2012 : Late Raphael, 2012. Edited by T. Henry and P. Joannides pp.76-85

    Capellen 2005 : Capellen, JM, 2005. Raphael : the paintings. Volume 2, The Roman Religious Paintings ca.1508-1520 pp. 183-189, no. 64