Raphael
Morghen (aka Raffaello
Morghen) (1758–1833)
“Portrait de
Jeanne d'Arragon” (as titled in plate), 1821, after Raffael (1483–1520) and
Giulio Romano (1499–1546) following the intermediary design by Pierre Bouillon
(1776–1831), from the series, “Musée Royal”.
Note that Frederic
Robert Halsey (1885) in his catalogue raisonné for
Morghen advises: “The etching was made by Angelo Emilio Lapi. The plate was
then handed over to Giovanni Rivera, who engraved the rest of it, except the
head and hands, which were executed by Morghen, who, besides, went over the
entire plate, giving it its harmony and finish. The original drawing, by
Bouillon, is in the possession of the author [Halsey]. It adds an interest to this plate to know
that Raffaello himself only painted the hands and head of the original, i. e.,
those parts engraved by Morghen” (p.13; see https://archive.org/details/raphaelmorghense00hals/page/12/mode/2up).
The Curator of
the British Museum offers the following insights about this print: “This print
reproduces a portrait which is in the collection of the Musée du Louvre (Inv.
612). Vasari reports that the head of the sitter was painted by Raphael after a
cartoon executed by Giulio Romano, who also painted the rest of the portrait.
The sitter, traditionally identified as Joanna of Aragon, is now thought to be
Dona Isabel de Requesens” (https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1843-0513-1034)
I understand that Dona Isabel de Requesens y Enriques de Cardona-Anglesola
(1500–1577) was the vice-queen of Naples, whereas Joanna of Aragon (1454–1517)
was the queen consort of Naples.
Engraving and
etching on fine laid paper with wide margins as published.
Size: (sheet) 55.8
x 39.4 cm; (plate) 49.3 x 35.3 cm; (image borderline) 31.9 x 25.7 cm.
Lettered in
plate below the image borderline: (left) “Peint par Raphaël.”; (centre) “Dessiné
par Bouillon./ PORTRAIT DE JEANNE D'ARRAGON.”; (right) “Gravé par Raph:
Morghen.”
State iii (of
iv) showing shaded uncial capitals, before the addition of “Ecole Italienne …” of
state iv.
Halsey 12iii
(Frederic Robert Halsey, 1885, “Raphael Morghen's engraved works being a
descriptive catalogue”, New York, G P Putnam’s Sons, pp. 13–14, cat. no. 12 iii);
Palmerini 239 (Niccolo Palmerini 1824, “Opere d'intaglio del Cav. Raffaello
Morghen”, Florence, Niccolo Pagni, cat. no. 239); Nagler 60.
The British
Museum offers the following description of this print:
“Portrait of a woman, formerly identified as Joanna of Aragon, now known to be Doña Isabel de Requesens y Enrìques de Cardona-Anglesola; three-quarter length, turned to the left and looking to the viewer, with her left hand in her lap and her right touching her fur around her neck; she wears a hat with gems on the brim; in the background, at left, a woman leaning upon the edge of a loggia; after Raphael and Giulio Romano, final published state. 1821 Engraving” (https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1843-0513-1034).
Condition: a strong
and well-printed (near faultless) impression with generous margins in near
pristine condition for its large size and age with no tears, holes, folds,
abrasions, stains, foxing or significant signs of handling
I am selling
this very beautiful and finely crafted engraving for AU$277 (currently US$180.57/EUR182.78/GBP158.58
at the time of posting this listing) including Express Mail (EMS) postage and
handling to anywhere in the world, but not (of course) any import duties/taxes
imposed by some countries.
If you are
interested in purchasing this remarkable engraving—a true masterwork of
this very demanding medium—please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com)
and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.
This print has been sold
