The drawing, praised for showcasing the artist's exceptional talent through its free, rapid, yet flawless strokes, has been hailed as one of the most valuable pieces in Polish collections.
During a ceremony last Monday, Royal Castle director Wojciech Fałkowski emphasized the importance of the acquisition, stating: "This is a very important moment for Polish culture. Today, the castle's collection is enriched with a new masterpiece by Raphael. It will elevate the status of Polish collections on the global stage."
This new addition aligns with the Castle's strategy to create a significant collection of Italian art, as Italian art formed the basis for all European culture up to the 19th century, according to Fałkowski.
The piece, likely depicting the Roman hero Gaius Mucius Scaevola, highlights Raphael's ability to convey elegance and precision.
Dated between 1506 and 1510, the drawing measures 27.2 x 17.5 cm and is executed with pen and brown ink on two thin layers of handmade paper.
Given the fragility of paper drawings and their susceptibility to environmental factors, the drawing needs to be displayed in a windowless room under subdued lighting to protect it from UV rays and the damaging effects of visible light, according to Katarzyna Garczewska-Semka from the Castle's conservation department.
Despite these precautions, the work was initially on display for only a week to minimize exposure.
The drawing will be featured again in the upcoming Raphael: The Beauty of the Renaissance exhibition in October, alongside other works by Raphael and Renaissance artists from Italian collections and museums.
The Raphael drawing also serves as a poignant reminder of the losses Polish art collections suffered during World War II, specifically referring to the loss of Raphael's Portrait of a Young Man (c. 1510) from the Czartoryski Collection.
!["Portrait of a Young Man" by Raphael (1483-1520). Image: [Public domain]](//static.prsa.pl/images/2ec4aed9-803f-4b71-843a-3457006f605d.jpg)
"Portrait of a Young Man" by Raphael (1483-1520). Image: [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
Raphael, born Raffaello Santi in Urbino in 1483, was a pivotal figure of the Italian Renaissance. His works continue to influence the art world centuries after his death in 1520.
The Royal Castle in Warsaw served as the official royal residence of several Polish monarchs through the 17th and 18th centuries. It was all but destroyed by Nazi forces during World War II, and fully rebuilt during the 1970s and 1980s. It welcomes well over 1 million visitors every year.
(rt/gs)
Source: PAP
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