Master Collection 7: the expulsion of Heliodorus

 Detail from the Expulsion of Heliodurus by an unknown artist, after Raphael. Black chalk and brown wash on paper.

In this drawing a Roman-style cavalryman is attacking a man in armour lying on the floor.

The horseman looks angry.

Coins have spilled out of a fallen pot.

This drawing is a copy of the Expulsion of Heliodorus in a wall painting by the Renaissance artist Raphael at the Vatican in Rome.

Heliodorus was a Syrian official sent to rob Solomon’s Temple in Jerusalem at the time of Syrian domination over the Jews. When he arrived at the Temple he saw a horse, whose rider looked frightening.

It rushed fiercely at Heliodorus and, rearing up, attacked him with its hooves. The two young companions of the rider, represented as angels, beat Heliodorus, who collapsed.

The drawing is a mirror image of Raphael’s painting. It might have been made for copying as a print, which needs to be made as a mirror image, so that a print comes out the same way as the original painting.