A woman seated c.1515-30
Engraving | 21.1 x 12.6 cm (sheet of paper) | RCIN 852332
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An engraving, unknown to Bartsch, that Ruland (1876) thought to be executed by Enea Vico. This print, depicting a woman sleeping by a window with an angel flying carrying a cross, is related to the theme of The Vision of St Helena. Trimmed within the platemark. Annotated on the verso.
This print has been related to a drawing attributed to Parmigianino in the Louvre, Paris (inv. no. 6462). It appears very close to various prints depicting St Helena (see RCINs 852323, 852324, 852325 and 852326), after a drawing by Raphael (originally ascribed to Parmigianino) in the Uffizi, Florence (inv. no. 1973 F). This drawing presents the woman on the left, with various studies for God the Father appearing to Moses and architectural studies for St Peter's Basilica (see Bibliographic References).
According to the story, St Helena, mother of the Emperor Constantine, during her quest to discover the location of the True Cross (the cross on which Christ had been crucified) received divine help whilst dreaming. See also RCINs 852328 and 852329.Provenance
Added to the Prince Consort's Raphael Collection (c.1853-76)
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Creator(s)
After a work previously attributed to (draughtsman) -
Medium and techniques
Engraving
Measurements
21.1 x 12.6 cm (sheet of paper)
Markings
annotation: (?) 433 [verso, centre, in ink]
Other number(s)
Bibliographic reference(s)
Inventario Uffizi. Disegni Esposti II 1987 : Disegni esposti, vol. 2, 1987 / a cura di Annamaria Petrioli Tofani, Florence (Gabinetto disegni e stampe degli Uffizi) p. 441, no. 1973 F
Joannides 1983 : Joannides, P., 1983. The Drawings of Raphael, with a complete catalogue, Oxford p. 219, no. 342r