Raphael or Giulio Romano - Father with Son Possessed by Demons, 819

Two nude male figures are shown in a moment of intense physical and emotional strain. The father grips his son, whose body is contorted in a seizure with his head thrown back and mouth open, signifying demonic possession. The drawing uses sophisticated hatching to define the anatomy and the play of light over the tensed muscles.

This work captures the Renaissance intersection of theology and natural philosophy regarding 'sacred diseases' or demonic possession. In the context of Raphael's larger 'Transfiguration' project, this scene represents the earthly realm of suffering and spiritual darkness that awaits divine intervention, a theme often discussed in Neoplatonic terms as the soul's struggle within the material world.