Madonna of the chair (Madonna della Seggiola)

Art Historical Context

Behold the *Madonna of the Chair (Madonna della Seggi)*, a exquisite 1793 engraving that faithfully reproduces Raphael's beloved High Renaissance tondo painting. Created by the master Italian artist Raphael (Raffaello San da Urbino), the original depicts the Virgin Mary embracing the Christ Child on her lap, with the young Saint John the Baptist up in adoration. This intimate family scene, rendered in a circular format, exemplifies Raphael's harmonious style, blending classical grace with profound emotional warmth. This print represents the twelfth state of fourteen, crafted through the meticulous technique of engraving by Nicola de Antoni and the renowned Raphael Morghen. Engraving involves incising fine lines into a metal plate with a burin, allowing ink to hold in the grooves for richly detailed impressions. Measuring 16 9/16 × 14 1/2 inches on the plate, it captures the painting's soft modeling and monumental serenity, making Raphael's genius accessible to 18th-century collectors beyond the original's location. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department, this work—generously gifted in 1924 by Georgiana W. Sargent—was a testament to the era's passion for reproductive prints. These engravings democratized art, spreading Renaissance ideals of beauty, piety, and humanism across Europe and beyond.

About the Artist

Nicola de Antoni|Raphael Morghen|Raphael (Raffaello Sanzio or Santi)|Nicola de Antoni (Italian|Italian|Italian|Italian) · 1750 |1758 |1483 |1750 –1850 |1833 |1520 |1850

Italian, active 1800–16|Italian, Naples 1758–1833 Florence|Italian, Urbino 1483–1520 Rome|Italian, active 1800–16