DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.42129#0037
THE VATICAN.
5
PLATE 2. a.
THE SECOND OR MIDDLE LOGGIA.
RAPHAEL.
In the thirteen arcades, the perspective view of which this Plate repre-
sents, Raphael has conceived and executed the most perfect work of its
kind which has been produced in modern times. All the Arts are here
combined; and yet, amidst their variety, the most complete harmony
prevails. There is a vulgar tradition, that Raphael derived the principal
decorations in this Loggia from paintings in the Baths of Titus, and that
he afterwards caused these paintings to be destroyed ; but this probably
has originated in a misapprehension of the meaning of a passage in
Serlio’s Works of Balthazar Peruzzi.1 At any rate, it is a story which is
unlikely to obtain credence with any one capable of appreciating either
the Baths of Titus, or the Loggie. It is, however, very remarkable how
great and beneficial an effect the study of these ancient paintings produced
upon Raphael’s mind ; how they tended, as it were, to impregnate his
imagination with an inexhaustible variety of beautiful forms. The deco-
rations of this Loggia have been rendered familiar to the world by so
many descriptions and illustrations,2 that we do not propose to enter
1 Seb. Serlio tutte le opere d’ Architettura e Prospettiva etc., raccolte da Domenico Scamozzi Vicen-
tino ; Venezia, 1619, 4to., (lib. IV. c. ii. 192.) See also, in defence of Raphael, Annib. Mariotti ; Lettere
PittorichePerugine; lett. ix., page 224 ; and, Memorie per le Belle Arti. Roma,1785-1788; (v. 1788, pag.24.)
2 Of which the following are the best :—
Le Loggie di Raffaele nel Vaticano, incise da Giov. Volpato e Gioy. Ottaviani sui disegni di C.
Savorelli e Camporesi. Roma, presso M. Pagliarini, 1782, 43 prints, folio.
II Vaticano illustrate da E. Pistolesi, 8 vols. fol. 1829-1840. Roma.
And for the Sacred Subjects,
Nie : Chapron, 54 plates, Paris, P. Mariette, 1649.
Beschreibung der Stadt Rom. T. II. p. 302.
J. D. Passavant : Raphael von Urbino und sein Vater, &c., Leipsig, 2d V. page 202-230, and the
list he gives, on page 206, of most of the illustrations.
Dr. F. Kugler, A Handbook of the History of Painting, edited, with Notes, by Ch. L. Eastlake,
Esq. ; London, Murray, 1842, page 276-77.
G. Bellori Descrizione delle imagini di Raffaelle nelle camere del Vaticano. Roma, 1695, folio.
Lanzi, T. II., p. 75, &c. &c.
5
PLATE 2. a.
THE SECOND OR MIDDLE LOGGIA.
RAPHAEL.
In the thirteen arcades, the perspective view of which this Plate repre-
sents, Raphael has conceived and executed the most perfect work of its
kind which has been produced in modern times. All the Arts are here
combined; and yet, amidst their variety, the most complete harmony
prevails. There is a vulgar tradition, that Raphael derived the principal
decorations in this Loggia from paintings in the Baths of Titus, and that
he afterwards caused these paintings to be destroyed ; but this probably
has originated in a misapprehension of the meaning of a passage in
Serlio’s Works of Balthazar Peruzzi.1 At any rate, it is a story which is
unlikely to obtain credence with any one capable of appreciating either
the Baths of Titus, or the Loggie. It is, however, very remarkable how
great and beneficial an effect the study of these ancient paintings produced
upon Raphael’s mind ; how they tended, as it were, to impregnate his
imagination with an inexhaustible variety of beautiful forms. The deco-
rations of this Loggia have been rendered familiar to the world by so
many descriptions and illustrations,2 that we do not propose to enter
1 Seb. Serlio tutte le opere d’ Architettura e Prospettiva etc., raccolte da Domenico Scamozzi Vicen-
tino ; Venezia, 1619, 4to., (lib. IV. c. ii. 192.) See also, in defence of Raphael, Annib. Mariotti ; Lettere
PittorichePerugine; lett. ix., page 224 ; and, Memorie per le Belle Arti. Roma,1785-1788; (v. 1788, pag.24.)
2 Of which the following are the best :—
Le Loggie di Raffaele nel Vaticano, incise da Giov. Volpato e Gioy. Ottaviani sui disegni di C.
Savorelli e Camporesi. Roma, presso M. Pagliarini, 1782, 43 prints, folio.
II Vaticano illustrate da E. Pistolesi, 8 vols. fol. 1829-1840. Roma.
And for the Sacred Subjects,
Nie : Chapron, 54 plates, Paris, P. Mariette, 1649.
Beschreibung der Stadt Rom. T. II. p. 302.
J. D. Passavant : Raphael von Urbino und sein Vater, &c., Leipsig, 2d V. page 202-230, and the
list he gives, on page 206, of most of the illustrations.
Dr. F. Kugler, A Handbook of the History of Painting, edited, with Notes, by Ch. L. Eastlake,
Esq. ; London, Murray, 1842, page 276-77.
G. Bellori Descrizione delle imagini di Raffaelle nelle camere del Vaticano. Roma, 1695, folio.
Lanzi, T. II., p. 75, &c. &c.