Giovanni Ottaviani

"Loggie di Rafaele nel Vaticano"

PAVLVS III ▫ PONT ▫ MAX

signed:  

         Cai. Savorelli Pict., et Pet. Camporesi Arch. delin

         Joann. Ottaviani sculp. Cum privilegio SS.D.N Clementis XIII

Plate mark 74,3 x 42,2 cm

The painter Gaetano Savorelli, the draughtsman Ludovico Teseo, the architect Pietro Camporesi, and the engravers Giovanni Ottaviani (1735-1808) and Giovanni Volpato (1733-1803) received the privilege from Pope Clemens XIII to print three parts project and titled it “Loggia di Rafeale nel Vaticano“.

The decoration of the Loggie on the main storey in the Vatican Palace after Bramante’s death in 1514 was executed by Rafael and his assistants – Gulio Romano and Giovanni da Udine. He was commissioned by Pope Leon X and the work was comlpeted in 1519. As archeologist to the Pope, he was involved in the excavation of the ancient Golden House of Nero. Rafael adapted many elaborate elements of Roman frescoes he saw there. At Loggia classical mythological images were set together with biblical stories amidst a variety of ornament and especially grotesque.

The large black and white cooper engravings executed in 1772-76 depicting Loggia’s walls, ceilings, arches and doors. Magnificent work was enriched with gouache coloring. The whole series was of importance not just for the size and magnificent coloring of the prints. The work in the late 18^th century became of considerable interest and it influenced contemporary taste. The grotesque ornaments became popular and stimulated the taste for the "grotesque" in the neo-classical period.

This remarkable engraving of the doorway to Vatican Loggia - PAVLVS III ▫ PONT ▫ MAX - comes from the first part “Loggia di Rafeale nel Vaticano“.