Portrait of Agostino Beazzano, Copy from Raphael by Amos Cassioli

This work is a copy of a detail from Raphael’s portrait of Andrea Navagero and Agostino Beazzano, housed in the Doria Pamphilj collection in Rome. Amos created it in the summer of 1857 and sent it to his mentor Luigi Mussini, who was so pleased with it that he presented it to the Grand Duke, who was financing Cassioli’s studies in Rome. The Grand Duke was impressed by the painting and wanted to keep it. However, the artwork was never delivered to him. It is therefore likely that Mussini, who was deeply attached to the painting, tried to delay the handover, perhaps to avoid parting with it. Ultimately, delivery became impossible, partly due to the political upheaval that disrupted Tuscany in 1859.