Self-Portrait with a Friend

The painting represents two bust figures on a dark background; Raphael is described here in the scene behind a friend whose identity is not certain; the artist, the background, occupying the left part of the painting, places his left hand on the shoulder of his friend while looking at the spectator. The second character, occupying the central space with a twisting movement of the neck, turns towards the artist to look at him; he points his index finger at the viewer as if to show something or someone, his left hand resting on the hilt of his sword.