Holbein's 'Lady with a Squirrel' Travels to Rome in Museum Swap with Raphael's 'Fornarina'

The National Gallery of London is lending Hans Holbein's 'Lady with a Squirrel' (Anne Lovell?) to the Gallerie Nazionali di Arte Antica in Rome, as part of a reciprocal exchange that sends Raphael's 'Fornarina' to London. The loan coincides with the major exhibition 'The Credit Suisse Exhibition: Raphael' opening April 12 at the National Gallery, curated by Matthias Wivel, featuring over 90 works from institutions including the Louvre, Vatican Museums, Uffizi, National Gallery of Art Washington DC, and Museo Nacional del Prado. In Rome, Holbein's painting will be displayed in Room 16 alongside portraits related to Holbein or his circle, including 'Portrait of Henry VIII' and a copy of 'Portrait of Sir Thomas More' from the Frick Collection. The juxtaposition aims to explore functional and ideological aspects of portraiture—official and private—as developed by Holbein during his time at the Tudor court, as well as memorial, diplomatic, celebratory, biographical, and affective functions. Flaminia Gennari Santori, Director of the Gallerie Nazionali Barberini Corsini, stated that the exchange represents a great opportunity for growth and knowledge, promoting Italian cultural heritage abroad while hosting an equally important masterpiece. Holbein's oil-on-panel painting (56 x 38.8 cm) was acquired by the National Gallery in 1992 with contributions from the National Heritage Memorial Fund, Art Fund, and Mr. J. Paul Getty Junior via the American Friends of the National Gallery.