The Three Graces by Raphael

Drawing the Italian Renaissance: The King's Gallery, Palace of Holyroodhouse

This exhibition is in the past. View our current exhibitions.
RAPHAEL (1483-1520)

The Three Graces

Red chalk over some stylus underdrawing. Watermark of an anchor in a circle with a six-pointed star. | RCIN 912754

Raphael was one of the few Renaissance artists to draw from a nude female model - here, a single model in three successive poses. The sheet is a study for the Graces, goddesses of beauty and fertility, in his fresco of the Wedding Feast of Cupid and Pysche in the Villa Farnesina, Rome. 

  • watermark: anchor in circle with six-pointed star

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