Two Sibyls (Study for the Chigi Chapel)
Drawing on paper • Raphael (Raffaello Sanzio)
Style & Movement
High Renaissance
Medium & Technique
Pen and brown ink with brown wash, over red chalk, heightened with white (lead white) on cream paper
Creation Period
Circa 1512-1514
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 20 x 25 cm; Oval (tondo-like) format
Subject Description
Compositional study featuring two female figures, identified as Sibyls, in dynamic contrapposto. The left figure holds a scroll (or leans against a lyre-like structure), while the right figure gazes downward. The figures exhibit the muscular grace and complex torsion characteristic of Raphael's Roman period, influenced by Michelangelo's Sistine Ceiling.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Good/Fair (considering age). Visible foxing, some fading of the red chalk, and minor losses at the edges of the sheet.
Estimated Market Value
$5,000,000 - $15,000,000 (if authenticated as autograph)
Auction Estimate
$6,000,000 - $12,000,000
Provenance History
Likely part of a ducal collection (e.g., Crozat or Devonshire type) based on the mounting style; such drawings often passed through high-profile European auctions in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Art Historical Significance
Crucial preparatory study for the fresco 'Sibyls and Angels' in the Chigi Chapel at Santa Maria della Pace, Rome. It demonstrates Raphael's transition toward a more monumental, 'terribilità' style under the influence of the High Renaissance Roman school.
Notable Features
Masterful use of white heightening to create volume; the rhythmic flow of drapery lines; the visible pentimenti (changes) in the positioning of the hands and shoulders.
Condition Issues
Paper oxidation (yellowing), acidic staining, minor edge tears, significant lead white oxidation (blackening in some highlights), and possible old adhesive residue on the verso.
Conservation Recommendations
Professional deacidification, stabilization of friable red chalk, UV-filtering glazing, and storage in a climate-controlled environment with strictly regulated lux levels to prevent further fading.