Product Description

The loggia, or colonnaded porch, on the second story of the Apostolic Palace is one of the Vatican's most remarkable art treasures; its decoration, designed by Raphael (1483--1520) and executed by his workshop in 1517--19, epitomizes the spirit of the Italian Renaissance in its synthesis of Christian and classical themes. The thirteen square vaults of Raphael's 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 "grotesques" -- fanciful arabesques enlivened with a wide variety of human and animal figures--modeled after ancient Roman wall paintings.

This groundbreaking study of Raphael's 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 Raphael's workshop who worked with him on the loggia. The fourth part traces the loggia's 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 Raphael's loggia to the history of art.

200 illustrations, most in full-color

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #258500 in Books
• Published on: 2008-10-28
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 352 pages

About the Author
The foremost authority on the loggia of Raphael, art historian Nicole Dacos is director of research at the Fonds National de la Recherche Scientifique in Belgium.

Customer Reviews

A Little Seen, But Highly Influential Masterpiece of the Vatican
One of the hidden treasures in the Vatican is the loggia, or colonnaded porch, of the Apostolic Palace, designed and decorated by Raphael and his workshop. Possibly almost as stunning and detailed as the Sistine Chapel, this comprehensive book provides new pictures and details of the project. Part One of the book showcases the "grotesques" and bas-reliefs molded into the stucco around the loggia that were modeled after Roman wall paintings from Nero's Domus Aurea, that had been recently discovered. Part Two covers the Biblical scenes used in decorating the thirteen vaults--the first twelve being major Old Testament figures, each having four paintings depicting their story, the thirteenth being the story of Christ, from the Adoration of the Shepherds to the Last Supper. The third part is a breakdown of the many helpers from Raphael's studio and the other artists who came to Rome to work with him. Finally, the last section shows the influence that this masterpiece had on the world, often copied, including in the United States Capitol. Many of the pictures are unique to this book, commissioned for its publication. This is the first major English book on the Loggia, and an excellent companion to Abbeville Press' 2007 The Sistine Chapel: A New Vision.

No study of the life and work of Raphael can be considered comprehensive without the inclusion of "The Loggia Of Raphael"
Any list of Grand Masters of the western art world will include the name of Raphael (1483-1520). A loggia is a colonnaded porch that is part of the second story of the Apostolic Palace of the Vatican in Rome. It was designed and decorated by Raphael, a process that began in 1517 and concluded in 1519. Widely acknowledged to epitomize the spirit of the Italian Renaissance with its synthesis of Christian and classical themes, the thirteen square vaults of Raphael's loggia, each of which includes four frescoes of scenes from the Bible, as well as other architectural elements decorated with 'grotesques' modeled after ancient Roman wall paintings, this complex work of enduring beauty is magnificently showcased in "The Loggia Of Raphael: A Vatican Art Treasure" by art historian Nicole Dacos, who is Director of Research at the fonds National de la Recherche Scientifique in Belgium and arguably the foremost authority and expert on the subject. Superbly illustrated throughout with 200 illustrations, "The Loggia Of Raphael" is a 352-page compendium of detailed information making it a core addition to personal, professional, academic, and community library Art History reference collections. Indeed, no study of the life and work of Raphael can be considered comprehensive without the inclusion of "The Loggia Of Raphael" as part of the student's reading list.