Who painted The Plague in Crete/ 'Il Morbetto'?

The Plague in Crete/ 'Il Morbetto' was painted by Raphael in 1490.

Where can I see The Plague in Crete/ 'Il Morbetto'?

The Plague in Crete/ 'Il Morbetto' is held by Victoria and Albert Museum.

What movement is The Plague in Crete/ 'Il Morbetto'?

The Plague in Crete/ 'Il Morbetto' is associated with High Renaissance.

Artwork

The Plague in Crete/ 'Il Morbetto'

Raphael , 1490

The Plague in Crete/ 'Il Morbetto' is a print by the High Renaissance artist Raphael. It dates from 1490 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.

About this work

Overview

The work is a paper print attributed to Raphael, known under the titles *The Plague in Crete* and *Il Morbetto*. It translates a design conceived by the artist into a printed image that portrays a community struck by epidemic disease.

Subject & Meaning

The composition presents a bleak tableau of a town in crisis: a woman lies prostrate in the foreground, a man cradles a child, and a crowd of figures in the distance display various stages of illness. The scene conveys collective suffering and the fragility of life during a plague outbreak.

Technique & Style

Raphael’s design is rendered through a combination of chiaroscuro, which models forms with strong light‑dark contrasts, and sfumato, a subtle blurring that softens edges and creates atmospheric depth. These techniques give the print a three‑dimensional presence despite its flat medium.

Context

Created within the Renaissance, the print reflects the period’s interest in humanist themes and realistic representation of contemporary events. Epidemic disease was a recurrent subject in early modern art, serving both documentary and moralizing purposes.

History & Provenance

The print exists as a single‑sheet work on paper, derived directly from Raphael’s original drawing. Its ownership history is limited to collections that specialize in Renaissance prints, where it is catalogued under both of its titles.