Follower of Raphael; 19th century.

Follower of RAPHAEL (Urbino, 1483-Rome, 1520); XIX century.
"The betrothal of the Virgin and St. Joseph".
Bronze.
Measurements: 20 x 15 cm.
In this relief it is represented The nuptials of the Virgin and Saint Joseph, following in a direct way the famous pictorial prototype conserved in the Pinacoteca of Brera (Milan) painted by Rafael de Sanzio, transferring to the sculptural language.
The composition maintains the centralized structure of the original model, organized around an axial axis that arranges with geometric rigor the arrangement of the figures and the architectural space. The central temple, located in the background, acts as the backbone of the scene and as a symbol of sacred union, while establishing a rational and serene depth. In the relief, this spatiality is translated through a careful graduation of planes, which allows us to suggest distance and volume without renouncing narrative legibility.
From the stylistic point of view, the work stands out for the idealization of the figures, with measured gestures and restrained attitudes, faithful to Raphael's own canon of balanced and timeless beauty. The bodies are defined with a soft and continuous modeling, while the folds of the garments describe wide and orderly rhythms, contributing to the sense of calm and solemnity that pervades the scene. The relief avoids any dramatic emphasis to focus on the clarity of the story and the dignity of the rite represented.