DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.42129#0033
THE VATICAN.
3
PLATE 1.
PERSPECTIVE VIEW OF THE FIRST LOGGIA.
GIOVANNI DA UDINE.1
It appears from Vasari that we owe the decorations on the vaults
and walls of this Loggia to Giovanni da Udine. Fertilised by the genius
of Raphael, this Artist has displayed a wonderful facility and richness of
fancy, particularly in the arrangement of the vaults. The monotony of
the structure is completely hidden by the surprising variety of the
decorative paintings; while, at the same time, the architectural divisions
have been so judiciously made the ground-work of the arabesques, that
harmony prevails throughout.
The tasteful application of ornamental stucco, in which Giovanni
had, by a close study of ancient models, attained to the greatest perfec-
tion, produces further variety in the composition ; and, especially where
relief is given, as in the Archi-volts, by the oblique play of light, adds
greatly to the effect.
This rare combination of merit has secured to this Loggia, from the
time of its completion, the first place as a model for similar works. To
name only the best of those in which it has been imitated, we may men-
tion the open corridor of the Villa in the Via Flamminia at Rome, which
Vignola built for Pope Julius III.
The freshness of the decorations in question, however, was early lost,
the Loggia having apparently suffered even more than the rest of the
Vatican from the violence of the soldiery in the pillage of 1527.
Giovanni da Udine, when an old man, was employed by Pius IV. to
retouch in distemper the frescoes executed by him in his youth.2
1 Giovanni Nanni, called Giovanni da Udine, 1489-1564. Vasari; Vita dei più eccellenti Pittori,
Scultori ed Architetti, xiii. page 35. Milano, 1807 ; dalla Societa Typografica de’ Classici Italiani.
We have made use of this edition, on account of its notes and more general employment ; but the
best is the last Florentine edition of 1838.
8 For the colours of the first ceiling, see additional Plate 1, n. 1.
B 2
3
PLATE 1.
PERSPECTIVE VIEW OF THE FIRST LOGGIA.
GIOVANNI DA UDINE.1
It appears from Vasari that we owe the decorations on the vaults
and walls of this Loggia to Giovanni da Udine. Fertilised by the genius
of Raphael, this Artist has displayed a wonderful facility and richness of
fancy, particularly in the arrangement of the vaults. The monotony of
the structure is completely hidden by the surprising variety of the
decorative paintings; while, at the same time, the architectural divisions
have been so judiciously made the ground-work of the arabesques, that
harmony prevails throughout.
The tasteful application of ornamental stucco, in which Giovanni
had, by a close study of ancient models, attained to the greatest perfec-
tion, produces further variety in the composition ; and, especially where
relief is given, as in the Archi-volts, by the oblique play of light, adds
greatly to the effect.
This rare combination of merit has secured to this Loggia, from the
time of its completion, the first place as a model for similar works. To
name only the best of those in which it has been imitated, we may men-
tion the open corridor of the Villa in the Via Flamminia at Rome, which
Vignola built for Pope Julius III.
The freshness of the decorations in question, however, was early lost,
the Loggia having apparently suffered even more than the rest of the
Vatican from the violence of the soldiery in the pillage of 1527.
Giovanni da Udine, when an old man, was employed by Pius IV. to
retouch in distemper the frescoes executed by him in his youth.2
1 Giovanni Nanni, called Giovanni da Udine, 1489-1564. Vasari; Vita dei più eccellenti Pittori,
Scultori ed Architetti, xiii. page 35. Milano, 1807 ; dalla Societa Typografica de’ Classici Italiani.
We have made use of this edition, on account of its notes and more general employment ; but the
best is the last Florentine edition of 1838.
8 For the colours of the first ceiling, see additional Plate 1, n. 1.
B 2