The Royal Castle in Warsaw can be proud of its new masterpiece acquisition. The drawing "Figure of a soldier in armor all'antica" by Raffaello Sanzio, known as Rafael, has been added to the Museum's collection. This is the first artwork of the Italian master in museum collection, since the disappearance of “Portrait of a Young Man” during World War II.
Figure of a soldier in all'antica armor, photo: https://www.zamek-krolewski.pl/aktualnosc/2081-rafael-postac-zolnierza-w-zbroi-allantica#&gid=1&pid=2
“This is one of the most valuable artworks in Polish resources. You can see all the talent of the creator. His line is free, fast and perfect," says the director of the Castle museum, Prof. Wojciech Fałkowski.
"The drawing, measuring 27.2 x 17.5 cm, was made with a pen and brown ink on two thin layers of handmade paper," said Dr. Katarzyna Garczewska-Semka from the conservation department of the Royal Castle. "Unlike paintings on board or canvas, drawings on paper are particularly susceptible to damage, atmospheric factors, temperature, moisture and light," she explained. “That's why we present it in a room without windows and in semi-darkness. The protective glass completely blocks the access of UV rays, but unfortunately visible light has a harmful and, unfortunately, irreversible effect on the paper that is exposed to exposure. That's why the drawing will be exhibited here only for a week," she added.
“This is a very important moment for Polish culture. […] a new acquisition was added to the castle collection - a drawing by Raphael. It will become part of Poland's general cultural resources. It will raise the profile of Polish collections in the world," said Prof. Fałkowski. "The drawing we present today reminds us of the painful loss that Polish culture suffered during World War II - the 'Portrait of a Young Man' (around 1510) from the Czartoryski collection, which was lost then. This drawing is also part of the Castle's strategy - creating a large collection of Italian art," he added. According to prof. Fałkowski, "Italian art was the basis for the entire European culture, for the entire continent, until the beginning of the 19th century."
According to Marta Zdańkowska from the Art Center of the Royal Castle, "The figure of the soldier in all'antica armor is probably the Roman hero Gaius Mucius Scewola, who was captured by the Etruscan king, Porsenna. Scewola was said to have put his hand into the fire to prove that he was not afraid of torture or death - Impressed by his courage and determination, Porsenna freed him. The drawing was made between 1506 and 1510. "In the drawing we see all of Raphael's talent. His line is free, quick but perfect" - emphasized Prof. Fałkowski. "The drawing is a finished work, even though it does not show any refinement or even 'exhaustion'. On the one hand, there is a free line, on the other - a comprehensive approach, elegance and precision. This marks the greatest masters," he added.
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