An artwork on Galleree from Cleveland Museum of Art.
About the artwork
Studies of a Seated Female, Child's Head, and Three Studies of a Babyc. 1507–8
Raphael
Raffaello Sanzio (Urbino, April 6, 1483-Rome, April 6, 1520), commonly known as Raphael, was one of the most admired Italian painters and architects on the High Renaissance. He was trained in his native city Urbino, a center of art and culture during the rule of the Duke Federico da Montefeltro. Around 1495, Raphael moved to Perugia and joined the master Pietro Perugino's workshop. He later sojourned to Siena, and then resided in Florence by the autumn of 1504. There, Raphael studied the works by Renaissance masters such as Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Fra Bartolomeo, and Masaccio. Raphael is best known for his paintings of Madonnas (from 1504 through 1507), and the frescoes that Pope Julio II commissioned to him in the Vatican Palace in Rome in 1514. The same year architect Donato Bramante died, and the pope appointed Raphael chief architect. Raphael's style was based on clarity of forms and harmonious compositions; after his death, his works were highly admired by both Mannerist and Baroque artists.
This drawing is from Raphael’s "pink sketchbook," comprised of ten sheets of roughly equal size that each portray variations of a mother and child. Today, six of the drawings at the Palais des Beaux-Arts, Lille; two are at the British Museum; one is in a private collection; and one is in Cleveland. The small format of the sheets would have enabled the artist to carry the notebook as he traveled from Florence to Rome in 1508. Raphael used metalpoint, a technique popular in 15th- and early 16th-century Italy on a pink prepared surface. The pose of the infant's head in the drawing was based on that of the Christ child in Leonardo da Vinci's <em>Benois Madonna</em>, then in a private collection in Florence, with changes—such as the uplifted eyes and open mouth—made by Raphael. The curving back of the female nude is echoed in the roundness of the child's head. The three sketches of a reclining infant at the bottom of the sheet are freely handled and improvisational, relaying the child's squirming, continuous movement with repeated contour lines.
This sheet was probably once part of a sketchbook carried by the artist Raphael on a 1508 journey between Florence and Rome.
metalpoint
Sheet: 12 x 15.3 cm (4 3/4 x 6 in.)
Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund
In a quiet corner of art history, a tale unfolds within the delicate pages of Raphael’s cherished "pink sketchbook." This collection, tenderly cradled in the artist's hands, consists of ten enchanting sheets, each a testament to the bond between mother and child. Imagine a time long ago, in the vibrant ambiance of 1508, as Raphael journeyed from the bustling streets of Florence to the grandeur of Rome. The small, portable size of these sketches meant he could carry his inspirations with him, capturing moments of tenderness at every stop along the way.
Today, the legacy of this sketchbook endures, with six of these drawings residing in the serene halls of the Palais des Beaux-Arts in Lille, while others find homes in the esteemed British Museum, a private collection, and even in Cleveland. Each drawing speaks a language of its own, the pink-hued surface offering a warm embrace to the fine lines crafted with metalpoint—a technique that found its muse in 15th- and early 16th-century Italy.
Take a moment to contemplate the wondrous pose of the infant's head in one particular drawing. It whispers secrets from the past, drawing inspiration from the Christ child depicted in Leonardo da Vinci's renowned *Benois Madonna*, then nestled within a private collection in Florence. But Raphael, the master of innovation, added his own touch—lifting the child’s gaze and parting the lips, breathing life into the once-still image.
And there, in the gentle curve of the female figure, the roundness of the child’s head finds a reflection, creating a harmonized dance between mother and babe. At the bottom of the page, three sketches of a reclining infant emerge, alive and vibrant. They capture the essence of burgeoning life, the child’s movements sketched in a flurry of lively lines, echoing the sweet struggle of a little one squirming in joy.
In this sketchbook, we don’t merely see art; we feel it. It is a glimpse into the heart of Raphael—a fleeting yet profound reminder of the love that connects us all through the ages.
About the artist
Creating transformative experiences through art “for the benefit of all the people forever.”The Cleveland Museum of Art is renowned for the quality and breadth of its collection, which includes more than 66,500 artworks and spans 6,000 years of achievement in the arts. The artworks shared on this platform are sourced from the museum's Open Access data under the CC0 license. No endorsement is implied.Address: 11150 East Boulevard, Cleveland, OH, USA 44106
The best place to view Cleveland Museum of Art‘s artwork is on Galleree. Hear the story behind this work, interact with the image, discuss with people, curate your own playlists, and discover so much more from great artists and institutions alike.