The large Holy Family of Francis I (after Raphael), dated on the hem of the Virgin’s cloak: 1581, oil on canvas, 194 x 142 cm, framed

Certificate:
Prof Jürg Meyer zur Capellen, Münster (2010).

Literature:
J. Meyer zur Capellen, Raphael, The Paintings, vol. II, Landshut 2005, p. 175, no. 62/II/7.

Provenance:
Galerie Erhard, Berlin;
circa 1930 at the Schapbacher Schlössle, Schwarzwald;
398. Lempertz auction, 12 November 1938, Cologne, lot 81 (as work by Girolamo Muziano);
Consul Oskar Sommer, Schapbach;
art dealership, Alfons Peters, Frankfurt/Main;
since 1975 in a southern German private collection.

This painting is a copy of the painting by Raphael in the Louvre, Paris, which was executed in 1518. Prof Meyer zur Capellen assumes that our painting is based on a copy made by Raphael’s workshop. He believes that there are good reasons for attributing the work to Muziano: stylistically he had developed his work (in the 1580s) from a mannered to a rather more naturalistic language of forms. One could entirely imagine that a well-placed patron, who wished to have a good copy of the famous composition by Raphael, would turn to Muziano for this in the 1580s, (who was then) the most sought-after painter in the city... In this specific case, one can conclude that the work mentioned here is of a very good artistic quality and that Girolamo Muziano could absolutely be the creator of this painting...”