A recently conserved and analysed sixteenth-century painting in the collection of the Earls of Leicester at Holkham Hall is here attributed to Gian Francesco Penni. It has probably been in England since the early 1740s and contributes to a fuller understanding of Penni's devotional works, as well as their relationship with the compositions of his companion in Raphael's studio, Giulio Romano.
It is well established in scholarship that the new wing of the Papal Palace, Avignon, constructed and decorated by Urban V in 1364-66, is called Roma. The medieval origins of the designation, however, are identified here for the first time. By examining documents concerning the construction and the works undertaken in the surrounding gardens, archaeological findings and Early Modern drawings, new light is also thrown on the original appearance and function of the building.
