Raphael, Portrait [Lady Emilia Pia da Montefeltro], ca. 1504-5  (Baltimore Museum of Art)

     Part of the BMA's permanent colletion, this Raphael portrait of this famous character from Castiglioni's Il Cortegiano is one of only two Raphaels in the United States outside the National Gallery of Art (Washington, D.C.), which has four.  The other Raphael in Baltimore is at the Walters Art Museum.  The vast majority of Raphaels are in Europe, with a smaller number in London and Russia.  Catherine the Great was a serious art collector.