Madonna

The painting Madonna is an oil on canvas piece executed around 1600, attributed as a copy after the original work of the High Renaissance master, Raphael (Urbino 1483 - 1520 Rome). This classification as an ‘after’ work highlights the profound and lasting influence Raphael exerted on artists well into the 17th century, where studying and replicating his acclaimed compositions was standard practice for artistic training and dissemination.

While the specific identity of the copyist remains unknown, this work successfully translates the serene compositional balance and soft sfumato characteristic of Raphael’s original designs. The painting exemplifies the continuation of idealized figural representation derived from High Renaissance models, focusing on the iconic devotional subject of the Madonna and Child. Raphael’s treatment of this theme was one of his most influential and frequently reproduced subjects throughout European history.

The canvas currently resides in the esteemed collection of the Mauritshuis, contributing to the museum’s comprehensive overview of Old Master paintings. The enduring quality of Raphael’s artistry ensured that versions of his work, like this 17th-century painting, were produced and collected widely across Europe. Today, because the original compositions are foundational examples of classical art, many derived images and related studies have entered the public domain, allowing high-quality prints to circulate freely for appreciation and academic study. This long tradition of replication cemented Raphael’s status as a canonical figure whose works defined the principles of ideal beauty for centuries.