Madonna of Foligno - Pietro Marchetti

A detailed nineteenth-century engraving by Pietro Marchetti, reproducing Raphael's iconic Madonna of Foligno altarpiece.

This fine engraving by Pietro Marchetti reproduces the famous altarpiece by Raphael, known as the Madonna of Foligno. The original painting, commissioned by Sigismondo de' Conti, dates to the early sixteenth century. Marchetti captures the composition with technical precision, translating the tonal shifts of the original oil painting into the monochromatic language of line and shadow. The scene follows a traditional sacra conversazione arrangement. The Virgin and Child appear in the upper portion, supported by a bank of clouds and surrounded by a circular glory of cherubim. Below, four figures occupy the terrestrial plane. On the left, Saint John the Baptist stands beside Saint Francis of Assisi, who kneels in prayer. To the right, Saint Jerome presents the donor, Sigismondo de' Conti, to the divine figures above. At the centre, a young angel holds a blank tablet, acting as a visual bridge between the earthly and heavenly realms. In the distance, a small town is visible beneath a rainbow, a detail often associated with the specific history of the original commission. Marchetti demonstrates a high level of skill in his handling of the burin. The drapery folds are rendered with clarity, and the facial expressions retain the grace characteristic of Raphael's High Renaissance style. The print provides an opportunity to study the structural balance of the composition, which relies on a triangular arrangement of figures to guide the viewer's eye from the donor upwards to the Virgin. This reproduction reflects the nineteenth-century interest in disseminating masterworks through printmaking, allowing collectors to own high-quality interpretations of canonical Italian art. The print is presented on high-quality archival paper, ensuring that the subtle gradations of the engraving are preserved for display.