La Perla   

The Holy Family (1518-1520)

by:   Raphael   |    Romano      patron:   Count Canossa      category: Painting   
related artifacts: Baptism wall study 4 | Perla study 1r | Perla study 1v | Perla study 2

note:  This painting takes its name from the purchase of the work in 1656, when then-owner Spanish King Philip IV proclaimed it the "pearl" of his collection. Henry/Joannides (2013) credit patronage to Count Ludovico Canossa, who served as Bishop of Bayeux after working in the court of Duke of Montefeltro; This painting was documented in Canossa's will (see no. 50). While they date to sometime between 1518-1520, del Vecchi dates work a bit later (to 1522-1523),a disagreement that is complicated by the fact that analysis of the composition reveals it was prepared in different stages (see Mozo, Late Raphael); regardless, scholars generally agree that this work bears a strong presence of Giulio Romano.