The Holy Family or La Perla

Story

Philip IV called this painting The Pearl, as it was his favorite among all those in his collection. The composition was designed by Raphael but part of the execution was delegated to his pupil Giulio Romano (c. 1499-1546). As in other late works by Raphael, we find considerable emphasis on the landscape and contrasts of light, the result of the artist´s re-encounter with the work of Leonardo in Rome between 1513 and 1516. That influence is also evident in the pyramidal arrangement of the figures. The work was painted for Ludovico Canossa, and successively passed through the collections of the Duke and Duchess of Mantua, Charles I of England and Luis de Haro, who gave it to Philip IV.