The Disputa

An engraving reproducing with some differences the Disputation of the Holy Sacrament, painted by Raphael around 1508-09 in the Stanza della Segnatura in the Vatican. The engraving, printed from two plates, is on two joined sheets of paper. Lettered with artists' names and text in Latin at lower right. With dedication to Antoine Perrenot de Granvelle, bishop of Arras (1517-86). The arched format of the fresco's composition was changed and adapted to the rectangular format of the engraving, which is thought to have been made from a drawing of Raphael's finished fresco. Who may be held responsible for the drawing from which Ghisi worked is ongoing matter of debate. This print is the third by Giorgio Ghisi to be published by Hieroninymus Cock, who probably invited Ghisi to his printing house 'Aux Quatre Vents' in Antwerp in 1548 or 1550. Another engraving by Ghisi published by Cock is 'The School of Athens' (RCIN 852526), derived from another of Raphael's frescoes in the Stanza della Segnatura. For further discussion, see Bibliographic References.