Spencer Alley: Borghese Renaissance

Raphael
Entombment
1507

Renaissance paintings in the Borghese Gallery in Rome. The Raphael above began its public life in Perugia, where it was commissioned for the chapel of the Baglioni family in the Church of San Francesco al Prato. It remained there for a century. Then one dark night in 1608 "it was secretly removed from the church and sent to Rome, where Paul V gave it to Scipione Borghese. Outraged by this theft, the Perugians were placated by negotiations between the Papal Court and the city." The placated Perugians certainly never got their painting back. It has now spent 400 years under Scipione's roof, where it remains today.