Seconda Parte Delle Logge Di Rafaele Nel Vaticano
Terza Ed Ultima Parte Delle Logge Di Rafaele Nel Vaticano
Logge Di Raffaelle
Stucchi Del Vaticano By Raffaelle
Vol. I: T.pl., [3] pl., pl. A, A, B, B, I, I-XIV, XIV [i.e. a total of 36 fold. pl.]. The three unnumbered pl. are intended to form one image, as are the pairs lettered A, B, or numbered I-XIV; and in many copies (but not that of the Royal Academy) this group and these pairs are found pasted together. In the copy of the Istituto Nazionale Per La Grafica, Rome, the three unnumbered plates and pl. A, B are catalogued as occuring after pl. I-XIV (and pl. A,B without their letters); and the Istituto records an additional pl. captioned, 'Ordine tenuto nel disporre le stampe de pilastri delle logge di Rafaele presentate a N.S. Clemente XIV Felicemente Regnante, cosí situate nella stanza detta del S. Offizio al Quirinale'. The RIBA's copy is catalogued as having between the title-plate and first plate one leaf of letter-press text, carrying an address 'Aux Amateurs Des Beaux Arts' and the imprint 'A Rome, MDCCLXXII. Chez Marc Pagliarini (Avec Approbation)'. - Vol. II: T.pl., 13 pl. Each numbered pl. is printed from 2 coppers on 2 joined sheets. In the copy of the Istituto Nazionale Per La Grafica, Rome, the plates do not carry numbers. - Vol. III: T.pl., 12 pl. Each numbered pl. is printed from 2 coppers on 2 joined sheets.
Responsibility Note
In Vol. I the title-plate is signed as drawn by Petrus Camporesi and engraved by Ioannes Volpato; all others, as drawn by Cai. Savorelli and Pet. Camporesi and engraved by Ioann. Ottaviani, apart from pl. IX signed by engraver Ottaviani only. None carries the imprint of a publisher or printer, but the title-plate carries the privilege of Clement XIV and each of the other group / pairs, that of Clement XIII.
In Vol. II the title-pl. is unsigned; the rest are signed as drawn by Cai. Savorelli and Pet. Camporese and engraved by Iohan. Ottaviani. (But RIBA copy is catalogued as having these signed as engraved by Johannes Volpato.) Each carries the privilege of Clement XIV.
In Vol. III the title-pl. is unsigned; the rest are signed as drawn by Ludovicus Teseo Taurinensis, and engraved by Ioannes Volpato (with dates). Plates 1-4 carry the privilege of Clement XIV.
References
RIBA, Early printed books, 3 (1999), no. 2710, p.1609-10; G. Marini, ed., Giovanni Volpato 1735-1803 [exhibition catalogue] (1988), nos.173-98; Italy. Ministero Per I Beni Culturali E Ambientali. Istituto Nazionale Per la Grafica, Raphael Invenit: Stampe Da Raffaello Nelle Collezioni Dell'Istituto Nazionale Per La Grafica: Catalogo (1985), p.104-6, 468-89.
L. Bianchi, 'La Fortuna di Raffaello nell'incisione', in M. Salmi, ed., Raffaello: l'opera, le fonte, la fortuna (1968), II, p.647-89.
Studies of the grotesque include P. Morel, Les grotesques (1997); A. Chastel, La grotesque (1988); N. Dacos, La découverte de la Domus Aurea et la formation des grotesques (1969).
Summary Note
The title is given on the title-plate of Volume I. The titles on the title-plates of Volumes II, III are, 'Seconda Parte Delle Logge Di Rafaele Nel Vaticano Che Contiene XIII. Volte Ed I Loro Respettivi Quadri', and 'Terza Ed Ultima Parte Delle Logge Di Rafaele Nel Vaticano Che Contiene Il Compimento Degli Ornati, E De' Bassirilievi Antichi Esistenti Nelle Logge Medesime'.
No publication-date is given for Volume I on its title-plate or other plate. Its title-plate carries the privilege of Clement XIV, who reigned 1769-74 (and the letter-press leaf found in RIBA's copy carries the date 1772), but all other plates carry the privilege of Clement XIII, who reigned 1758-69. The publication-date of Volume II is given on its title-plate as 1776. That of Volume III is given on its title-plate as 1777 (with its plates carrying publication-dates of 1774 (pl. 1-4, with privilege of Clement XIV), 1775 (pl. 5-8) and 1776 (pl. 9-12)).
The plates show the decorations executed by Raphael, Giovanni da Udine, Giulio Romano and others in the Loggie of the Vatican palace for Leo X in 1515-1519. They are in 'grotesque' style, imitating decorations unearthed from ancient Roman buildings such as the Domus Aurea of Nero. The style went through many adaptations from the sixteenth to the nineteenth centuries. In the late eighteenth century it received a new boost with the publication of the decorative schemes uncovered at Pompeii and Herculaneum, and its influence may be seen in the interior designs of J.-H. Rousseau, Robert Adam, Percier and Fontaine and the Crace family.
In Volume I the title-plate shows a view along the loggia, with an oval portrait of Raphael; the three unnumbered plates together show a plan and elevation captioned 'Spaccato per il longo del secondo piano della loggia nel Cortile del Palazzo Vaticano corrispondente nel Cortile grande detto di S. Damaso, ove si dimostra l'Architettura ed Ornati della medema dipinti da Giovanni da Udine con la direzzione di Rafaele Sanzio da Urbino'; the pairs of plates A, A, B, B show the two doors at the ends of the loggia; the pairs of plates I, I-XIV, XIV show the decoration of pilasters between windows on the inner side of the loggia.
In Volume II the title-plate is followed by 13 plates showing decoration above doors or windows on the inner side of the loggia including Biblical scenes in the vault (twelve from the Hebrew Bible, one from the Gospel, all captioned in Latin).
In Volume III the title-plate is followed by twelve plates showing the decoration of pillars on the outer side of the loggia.
Each plate in Volumes I, II (apart from the title-plates) carries at its foot three indications of scale - in 'Palmi Romani', 'di Londra' and 'di Parigi'. In Volume III these indications are given at the foot of the first numbered plate only.
Some copies have hand-coloring and gilding - but in most cases this has been added much later.
The RIBA catalogue states that in 1783 the same images were published in Venice as Architettura ed ornati della loggia del Vaticano 'possibly from the same coppers', and that UCBA records 'The Pilasters and Stuccoes of the Loggie of the Vatican' (Paris 1787-90), 'which is probably another series of copies of the plates'.
Provenance
Purchased by 1780. Recorded in RAA Library, Catalogue, 1802.
Copy Note
Defective: lacks plates XIV, XIV of Vol. I. and the title-plates of Volumes II, III.
The lower cover of Vol. II carries a label inscribed in ink, 'Volti del Vaticano Raffaelle Press 1 Shelf 2'; that of Vol. III carries a label inscribed in ink, 'Stucchi Del Vaticano Raffaelle Press 1 Shelf 2'.
Binding Note
Vol. I: 18th-century mottled calf; upper cover gilt-stamped with royal arms of Britain and 'R.A.'; rebacked in 20th century, spine lettered 'R.A.', red morocco spine-label lettered 'Loggie Di Rafaele Nel Vaticano'. - Vol. II: 19th-century half mottled calf, brown cloth-covered boards; rebacked in 20th century, spine lettered 'Volti Di Vaticano By Raffaelle'. - Vol. III: 19th-century half calf, brown papered boards; rebacked in 20th century, retaining most of earlier spine-piece lettered 'Stucchi Del Vaticano By Raffaelle'.