A view of the Logge in the Vatican

An engraving by Giovanni Volpato and Giovani Ottaviani showing a view of the Logge painted by the workshop of Raphael (c.1517-19) in the Vatican. Lettered with title below image. State without full publication details. Originally published as frontispiece of Volpato and Ottaviani, Logge di Rafaele nel Vaticano, Rome 1772-7.

This publication, issued in three parts, was the first to reproduce the ornamental decoration of the pilasters, half-pilasters and vaults of the Logge in such comprehensive detail. It must be noted, however, that while the prints in the first and second parts of the publication reproduce the Logge decoration faithfully, those of the third part instead combine different motifs from it to create new designs. The repeating sequence of decoration in  the Logge - see Dacos 2008 (Bibliographic References) for more information - is strongly influenced by the antique; Raphael had studied antique sculpture and painting in Rome.