The façade of Palazzo Branconio dell'Aquila

An etching by Carlo Pontani depicting the façade of Palazzo Branconio dell'Aquila, a lost palace designed by Raphael c.1520 for Giovanni Battista Branconio dell'Aquila, a papal advisor and goldsmith. This print was published by Pontani in "Opere architettoniche di Raffaello Sanzio, incise e dichiarate dall'Architetto Carlo Pontani", published in two volumes in 1841 and 1845. The print is lettered with a scale, the title in Italian and it is signed by the printmaker. Annotated on the verso. Trimmed within the platemark.

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).