Raphael’s Esterházy Madonna travels to Rome

Italian master Raphael’s Esterházy Madonna is the highlight of an exhibition in the antique art gallery of Rome’s Barberini Palace, the curator of the show said.

One of Hungary’s most treasured artworks has been loaned by Budapest’s Fine Arts Museum which is undergoing renovation. As we wrote two days ago, the Roman Hall of the Museum of Fine Arts has been closed since the Second World War and has been functioning as storage. However, the whole museum has been going through a complete renovation since 2015, and a decision has been made to renew the famous Roman Hall as well. Visitors will be able to see the renewed Roman Hall free of charge from 15 March to Easter (1 April).

Painted in 1508,

the Esterházy Madonna has been put on display as part of an exhibition showing a copy of the study Raphael made for the painting, the original of which can be seen in the Uffizi, art historian Cinzia Ammannato told MTI.

The exhibition running until April 8 is also showing three other Madonna paintings from the Barberini’s collection, she said.

The Esterházy Madonna was acquired by the Hungarian state in 1871 from the collection of the renowned Esterházy family.

It was last shown in Milan in 2014.

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Photo: MTI/EPA/Riccardo Antimiani

Source: MTI