The Loggia of Raphael: A Vatican Art Treasure

The loggia, or colonnaded porch, on the second story of the Apostolic Palace is one of the VaticanGÇÖs most remarkable art treasures; its decoration, designed by Raphael (1483GÇô1520) and executed by his workshop in 1517GÇô19, epitomizes the spirit of the Italian Renaissance in its synthesis of Christian and classical themes. The thirteen square vaults of RaphaelGÇÖs loggia each contain four frescoes of scenes from the Bible, from the Creation to the Last Supper. Meanwhile, the plasterwork of the other architectural elements is decorated with GÇ£grotesquesGÇ¥GÇöfanciful arabesques enlivened with a wide variety of human and animal figuresGÇömodeled after ancient Roman wall paintings.This groundbreaking study of RaphaelGÇÖs loggia, the first to be published in English, has four parts. The first and second concern the grotesques and the scenes from the Bible, respectively, while the third examines the lives and artistic styles of the members of RaphaelGÇÖs workshop who worked with him on the loggia. The fourth part traces the loggiaGÇÖs enduring influence: the grotesque ornamental style elaborated by Raphael has been imitated as far afield as the corridors of the United States Capitol, and the Bible scenes served as influential models for popular prints. Illustrated throughout with newly commissioned color photographs, this book reaffirms the central importance of RaphaelGÇÖs loggia to the history of art.