Oil on panel "Madonna Connestabile", after Raphael Sanzio, early 19th century – Italy

Spectacular oil on panel following the original "Madonna Connestabile" by the Renaissance master Raphael Sanzio (1502). The original work was created in oil on panel and then transferred to canvas. It is highly likely that this is the last work painted by Raphael in Umbria before moving to Florence, where the influence of Perugino is noticeable. Its name comes from the Connestabile family of Perugia, who sold it to Tsar Alexander II of Russia in 1871; it is therefore housed in the Hermitage in Saint Petersburg, Russia. The painting depicts the Virgin Mary holding the Child Jesus while reading a book, a detail symbolising divine wisdom. The Virgin's cloak is blue, her traditional colour; beneath it, she wears a carmine dress with an embroidered ribbon, although in this version the colours are more muted than in the original work. Raphael portrayed the Virgin with a serene face, an idealised and meditative expression, her eyes lowered, tenderly contemplating her son. In the background, a natural landscape with snow-capped mountains. The pyramid composition, very characteristic of the artist, brings balance, stability, and guides the viewer's gaze. The frame is carved and gilded wood, with an arched top, reminiscent of the circular shape of Raphael's work.