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Architecture

Raphael's career as an architect saw him work on St Peter's Basilica, Vatican

AFTER ANDREA SANSOVINO (1467-1529)

Santa Maria in Domnica

published 1845

Etching | 28.1 x 38.2 cm (sheet of paper) | RCIN 854120

An etching depicting the vestibule of the Basilica of Santa Maria in Domnica, known as the Navicella, in Rome. This print was published by Carlo Pontani in "Opere architettoniche di Raffaello Sanzio, incise e dichiarate dall'Architetto Carlo Pontani", published in two volumes in 1841 and 1845 (4, pp. 11-12). The print is lettered with the title in Italian and a scale. Signed by the printmaker.

The basilica was built in ancient times, but then rebuilt from 818-22 by Pope Paschal I, with mosaic decoration. For centuries, scholars debated the dates and the author of restoration that took place under Giovanni di Lorenzo de' Medici (the future Pope Leo X), and it was generally believed that there had been two phases of renovation, before and after his election as Pope. Gaspare Celio (1638) was the first to attribute the restoration of the church to Raphael and the frieze decoration to Giulio Romano and Perin del Vaga. This opinion was accepted by scholars until documents were found first in 1910 and then 1943. These proved Andrea Sansovino to be the architect responsible for the restoration. Frommel more recently discovered another volume with payments all dated 1513-1514 and therefore rejected the traditional opinion of two different restorations. Frommel also suggested Peruzzi and his school as the artists responsible for the decoration of the frieze (see Bibliographic References).

  • Creator(s)

    After Andrea Sansovino (1467-1529) (artist)

    After a work previously attributed to Raphael (Urbino 1483-Rome 1520) (artist)

  • 28.1 x 38.2 cm (sheet of paper)
    23.9 x 33.6 cm (platemark)

  • Tempio e s. Maria in Domnica detto anche della Navicella in Roma

  • Added to the Prince Consort's Raphael Collection (c.1853-76)

  • Subject(s)
    • Arts, Recreation, Entertainment & Sport
      • Architecture