A unique exhibition of engravings and lithographs based on the works of Renaissance master Raphael Santi has opened at the Vitebsk Art Museum, a branch of the Vitebsk Regional Museum of Local Lore in Belarus. The show features 92 works, including 30 engravings from the 1774 copper-plate series illustrating Apuleius's novel "Cupid and Psyche" (originally created 1530-1560), 52 toned lithographs of Raphael's Vatican Loggias frescoes executed in 1866 by Ludwig Gruner and Niccola Consoni, and a series of engravings from drawings of the Chigi Chapel dome. This marks the first time the complete set of 52 lithographs has been displayed together.
This exhibition matters because it highlights the historical role of printmaking in disseminating and popularizing monumental Renaissance art before the age of photography. By bringing together rare 16th-19th century reproductive prints based on Raphael's work, the show offers insight into how masterpieces were copied, circulated, and appreciated across centuries, while also celebrating Raphael's enduring influence as a painter, architect, and archaeologist. The venue in Vitebsk, a city with its own rich art history, adds a layer of cultural significance.