Four prophets

Two engravings reproducing, in reverse, the fresco depicting four prophets, painted by the workshop of Raphael c.1511-14 in the Chigi Chapel in Santa Maria della Pace, Rome. Produced on two different plates but forming a pair, with the lettering running continuously across both objects. Lettered with title, attribution of the fresco to Raphael and publication details. With a dedication to Egidio Renard in Latin. 

Raphael was commissioned, probably early in 1511, by the banker Agostino Chigi to decorate his chapel in Santa Maria della Pace. The initial plan of decoration for the chapel included frescoes, two bronze roundels and an altarpiece; however, whilst Raphael executed some designs for the altarpiece, which was to depict the resurrection, it was never executed, and the bronze roundels, whilst cast, appear to never have been installed. The frescoes comprise two registers, with four prophets on the top  (flanking a window) and four sybils below. According to Vasari, portions of the frescoes were painted by Timoteo Viti. The very top part of the fresco, where two putti fly above the prophets, is not reproduced in these prints.