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The frescoes in the Vatican Palace commissioned by Popes Julius II and Leo X

Benoît Audran I (1661-1721)

Philosophy c. 1700

Etching | 42.4 x 37.8 cm (sheet of paper) | RCIN 852636

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An etching after one of the four roundels painted by Raphael in the vault of the Stanza della Segnatura in the Vatican. Second state, numbered in the lower right corner: 2, and with letters below image. On watermarked paper. Annotated in pencil on the back. Not listed in Ruland (1876). For a first state impression, see RCIN 852635.

One from a series of four engravings reproducing the four roundels. The remaining prints from the series can also be found in the Raphael Collection: Theology (RCINs 852615, 852616), Poetry (RCIN 852624), and Justice (RCIN 852639). Ruland attributed the whole series to N. Bocquet.

The roundel reproduced in this print depicts the allegorical figure of Philosophy, flanked by two winged putti holding inscribed panels. In the Stanza della Segnatura, it is painted above the fresco of the School of Athens. A photograph of the roundel can be found at RCIN 852632.
  • Creator(s)

    Benoît Audran I (1661-1721) (etcher)

    After Raphael (Urbino 1483-Rome 1520) (artist)

    Previously attributed to Nicolas Bocquet (active 1691) (etcher)

  • annotation: Pf. 27. III. 4a [back, upper left, in pencil]
    watermark: Indistinct, one line of words
  • 42.4 x 37.8 cm (sheet of paper)

    41.1 x 37.3 cm (platemark)

  • La Philosophie / Peint par Raphael au Vatican dans la Chambre de la Signature

  • Added to the Prince Consort's Raphael Collection (after 1876)

  • Object type(s)
      • visual works
        • prints
    Subject(s)
    • Places
      • Europe
        • Italy
          • Lazio [Italy]
            • Rome [Lazio]
              • Vatican City [Rome]
                • Vatican Palace [Vatican City]
                  • Stanza della Segnatura [Vatican Palace]
                    • Vatican-Stanza della Segnatura-Ceiling
  • Other number(s)

    Ruland p.196 F.III.4(add)

    Bibliographic reference(s)

    Raphael Invenit 1985 : G. Bernini Pezzini et al., Raphael Invenit. Stampe di Raffaello nelle Collezioni dell'Istituto Nazionale per la Grafica, Rome, 1985 p.42, no.VI.6 (entry by Simonetta Prosperi Valenti Rodinò)

    Höper 2001 : Höper, C. Raffael und die Folgen, Hatje Cantz Verlag, 2001 p.388, no.F 6.1