Five Nude Infants in Various Poses

Raphael (Raffaello Sanzio or Santi)

ca. 1500 · Metalpoint, traces of charcoal or black chalk, on pale pinkish gray prepared paper. · Robert Lehman Collection

Among the studies of children on this sheet, the figure portrayed seated upon a tree stump may represent the Christ Child, while the child holding a book may portray the infant Saint John. Although the subject remains unidentifiable, the tree stump, and the new branch which grows from it, are references to the Old and New Testament and were frequent symbols of rebirth and resurrection. This carefully executed drawing has long been associated with the circles of Perugino and his most gifted pupil, Raphael.

Artist

Raphael (Raffaello Sanzio or Santi)

Date

ca. 1500

Medium

Metalpoint, traces of charcoal or black chalk, on pale pinkish gray prepared paper.

Department

Robert Lehman Collection

Credit line

Robert Lehman Collection, 1975