Artwork
La Madonna della Sedia
La Madonna della Sedia is a print by Johann Gotthard von Müller. It dates from 1850 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
Johann Gotthard von Müller’s 1850 print, titled *La Madonna della Sedia*, is an engraved reproduction of a composition originally painted by Raphael. Executed on paper, the image translates the Renaissance master’s work into a monochrome medium, preserving the central grouping of a seated woman with two children and the surrounding dark drapery.
Subject & Meaning
The scene depicts a woman, traditionally identified as the Virgin, seated on a chair and holding an infant, while an older child leans toward her with a contemplative expression. Though the title suggests a devotional subject, the figures are rendered with a domestic calm, emphasizing maternal intimacy rather than overt religious narrative.
Technique & Style
Müller employed fine line engraving to model the forms, using cross‑hatching and tonal gradations to achieve a soft, rounded quality. The chiaroscuro effect creates depth, particularly in the folds of the patterned dress and the veil, while the dark curtain backdrop isolates the figures and enhances the three‑dimensional illusion.
History & Provenance
The print was produced in the mid‑nineteenth century as part of a broader trend of reproducing Renaissance masterpieces for a wider audience. It is based on Raphael’s original, which resides in the Musée Français, and was later acquired by the Victoria and Albert Museum, where it remains in the print collection.
Artist & collection
Artist
Johann Gotthard von Müller spent decades hunched over copper plates in his Stuttgart workshop, turning engravings into something warmer than ink and metal.
