After Raphael Sanzio, early 19th century

After RAFAEL SANZIO (Urbino, 1483 - Rome, 1520), beginning of the 19th century.
"Transfer of Christ".
Oil on canvas.
Relined.
Precise cleaning.
Measurements: 98 x 93 cm; 133 x 129 cm (frame).

The painting represents one of the most moving compositions of the Italian Renaissance: the moment when the body of Christ, just descended from the cross, is transferred to the tomb. This 19th century version faithfully reproduces the central panel of the Baglioni Altarpiece, originally painted by Raphael Sanzio around 1507, during his Florentine period.

In the foreground we see the recumbent Christ, supported by two young disciples: one seen from the back, carrying the weight of his legs, and the other holding him by the torso with a white cloth that serves as a shroud. The body of Jesus, serene and luminous, contrasts with the muscular tension of those who carry him, in a scene where classical grace is combined with intense human emotion.

On the right, in a somewhat more secluded plane, the lamentation of the Virgin, faint with grief, is supported by other pious women. Her faintness is a symbolic echo of the inert body of her Son, reinforcing the parallelism between the two: Mother and Son share the experience of suffering and compassion. Mary Magdalene, recognizable by her flowing hair and passionate expression, bends over Christ's hand, clasping it in a gesture of devotion and despair. Her figure, captured in full movement, introduces a rhythmic dynamism that runs throughout the composition.

In the background, a luminous and open landscape suggests the route to the tomb, with gentle hills and a horizon that breathes the Renaissance ideal of harmony between the human and the divine. The coloring is rich and varied, with warm tones in the cloaks and cool tones in the background, following Raphael's characteristic chromatic balance. The reds, blues and greens intertwine with a golden light that unifies the scene, highlighting the marble purity of Christ's body.

The original work was part of the Baglioni altarpiece, commissioned by Atalanta Baglioni to commemorate the violent death of her son Grifonetto, adding a personal dimension of mourning and redemption.

The painting we are bidding on, executed in the 19th century, reflects the academic admiration for the Renaissance genius and the revaluation of Raphael in the neoclassical context. During this period, numerous European workshops executed high quality copies for collectors, academies and museums, using oil techniques on canvas or panel, with great care in chromatic and anatomical fidelity.