RaphaelItalian, 1483–1520Niccolini-Cowper Madonna
The Niccolini-Cowper Madonna
Can I see it?
Yes, on view now
Where is “Niccolini-Cowper Madonna” now? National Gallery of Art, Gallery 20 · West Building, Main Floor, Washington, D.C. Yes, on view now. Checked September 29, 2026.
Open now· until 5:00 PM
On public display.
- Checked
- In this state since
- Source
- The museum
About the painting
The Niccolini-Cowper Madonna, also known as the Large Cowper Madonna, is a painting by the Italian High Renaissance artist Raphael, depicting Mary and Jesus Christ as the Christ Child, against a blue sky.
Details
- Accession number
- 1937.1.25
What it shows
In the catalog
Sources
- National Gallery of Art
- Image: National Gallery of Art — Museum open access
In the life of Raphael
The whole lifec. 1504 – c. 1508 · Workplace
Florence
1507
Meets Donato Bramante
Raphael met the architect Donato Bramante, by an unproven account his relative. Bramante became his adviser and patron and later recommended him to Pope Julius II as the best candidate for work in the Vatican.
1508
Moves to Rome at the invitation of Julius II
The new pope, Julius II, invited Raphael to Rome, perhaps at the suggestion of his architect Bramante, a distant relative of the artist. Unlike Michelangelo, kept waiting for months after his summons, Raphael was immediately commissioned to fresco what was to become the pope's private library, a far larger commission than any he had had before.
1508–1520 · Workplace
Rome
c. 1510
Marcantonio Raimondi engraves his designs
Raphael made no prints himself, but his pupils and assistants, above all Marcantonio Raimondi, engraved his drawings; around 1510 came “The Judgement of Paris”. The prints were sold in street shops and bought by maiolica painters, jewellers and carvers.
![The Crucifixion with the Virgin, Saint John, Saint Jerome, and Saint Mary Magdalene [right panel], Pietro Perugino, c. 1482/1485](https://api.nga.gov/iiif/49cffd8d-5c06-4628-9369-1b6bdb3e7b90/full/!2400,2400/0/default.jpg)
![The Crucifixion with the Virgin, Saint John, Saint Jerome, and Saint Mary Magdalene [left panel], Pietro Perugino, c. 1482/1485](https://api.nga.gov/iiif/b43e331e-ede9-44ca-a276-0b8806630fbd/full/!2400,2400/0/default.jpg)
![The Crucifixion with the Virgin, Saint John, Saint Jerome, and Saint Mary Magdalene [middle panel], Pietro Perugino, c. 1482/1485](https://api.nga.gov/iiif/63049d6b-06b2-4e4b-9443-532df5b30fa7/full/!2400,2400/0/default.jpg)
