Raphael Facsimile Objects (R1 & R2)

Chris Santa Maria’s photo from the Met’s Raphael show of two small devotional paintings by Raphael on the backs of two amazing paintings I will not have seen the Raphael show before it closes tomorrow. But it wasn’t until twelve days ago, that the loss of this opportunity hit me, when @chrissantamaria posted photos of these freestanding side panels, reunited from a lost triptych. On the left is Mary Magdalene, on the right, Saint Catherine. The St. Catherine is on loan from the Galleria Nazionale delle Marche in Urbino. The Magdalene sold last year at Sotheby’s for a mere $3.1 million. The cartoon for this panel is also included in the show, a loan from the Kupferstichkabinett, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin. I’m sure they’re a delight for many. [l] Raphael, Magdalene Verso, c 1503, painted surface verso: 14 ¼ by 4 ⅝ in.; 36.2 by 11.7 cm, panel: 15 by 5 ¾ in.; 38.1 by 14.6 cm. [r] Raphael, St Catherine of Alexandria, Verso, c. 1503, panel: 15 3/8 × 5 7/8 in.; 39 × 15 cm. My interest was…