Live Auction 7806Lord St. Helens and Sir William FitzHerbert The Collections of a Diplomat and a Courtier
After Raffaello Sanzio, called Raphael
Lot 557

After Raffaello Sanzio, called Raphael

The Holy Family with the Infant Saint John the Baptist

Closed22 January 2009

Price Realised

GBP 4,375

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After Raffaello Sanzio, called Raphael
The Holy Family with the Infant Saint John the Baptist
inscribed 'ECCE AGNVS DEI' (lower left)
oil on canvas
54½ x 47¾ in. (139 x 121.5 cm.)
in a George II giltwood swept frame

(Purportedly) Sir Luke Schaube.
Bought by the Duchess of Portland for £703 in 1817.
Bought at a sale of Welbeck pictures for £20 by
Alleyne FitzHerbert, 1st Baron St. Helens (1753-1839), and by descent to his nephew
Sir Henry FitzHerbert, 3rd Bt. (1783-1858).

Specialist note

According to Nora FitzHerbert's hand-written post-script to her 1938 Catalogue, 'The original painting of this picture was kept for 200 years in the Vatican. It was purchased by an unknown purchaser and in 1939 was insured for £50,000. and exhibited at the Leicester Galleries, London in Summer of 1939 and also at Blackpool the same year.' This would seem to refer not to the prototype but to another early copy of which Nora FitzHerbert may have been aware; the prototype is Raphael's celebrated adonna della Quercia, 'of the Oak Tree' (Madrid, Museo del Prado).