UNKNOWN RAPHAELS

Taranaki Daily News, 23 March 1935, Page 9

UNKNOWN RAPHAELS

FOUR CHERUBS AT THE VATICAN. A delightful discovery has been made at the Vatican, of four Raphael paintings of cherubs, says the Children’s Newspaper. Experts declare that they are undoubtedly the work of the great artist, for they bear a striking likeness to the children in the Madonna of the Curtain and in another of Raphael’s pictures. It was while the Hall ..of the. Signature was being cleaned that the four paintings were discovered above some larger pictures. It is believed that Raphael, who painted the hall between 1508 and 1511, added the cherubs as an ..afterthought. Traces of older paintings, are to be seen beneath them,. and he probably covered up this work to make the general design more harmonious One of the cherubs holds a dove that is about to take flight. Another, standing above the famous • painting known as the School of Athens, carries a globe, while another holds a horn of plenty.