An Assembly of Scholars

A woodcut by Giuseppe Porta Salviati, made as a frontispiece to "Le Sorti di Francesco Marcolino da Forlì intitolate Giardino di Pensieri allo Illustrissimo Signore Hercole Estense Duca di Ferrara" which was first published in 1540. Lettered with wood cutter's name on a tablet at lower right. Trimmed along the upper edge, thus lacking the title. The composition was reproduced in an engraving which Bartsch erroneously attributed to Marco Dente and described as after a design by Francesco Salviati (RCIN 852586). According to Ruland (1876), the composition is derived from Raphael's firsth sketch for the 'School of Athens'.