The façade of Palazzo Branconio dell'Aquila

An etching depicting the façade of Palazzo Branconio dell'Aquila, a lost palace designed by Raphael c.1520 for Giovanni Battista Branconio dell'Aquila, papal advisor and goldsmith. Trimmed within the platemark. This print is lettered in German below the image with the title, which refers to the building as Raphael's house. The confusion between Palazzo Branconio and Raphael's house is widespread in various sources (see also RCIN 854137) and the correct identification of the two buildings was made only in 1927 (for a print of Raphael's house, see RCIN 854133). See Bibliographic References.

According to Ruland (1876), this print was published in Passavant's Atlas (pl. XIII).

Palazzo Branconio dell'Aquila used to stand in the Borgo rione (district), close to St Peter's Basilica, and it was demolished in 1661 to open a small square (Piazza Rusticucci) in front of the Colonnade of St Peter's Square. Thanks to many written and graphic documents related to the various phases of this project, this is one of Raphael's best known architectural endeavours (see Bibliographic References).