The Fire in the Borgo

An engraving reproducing (in reverse) the composition of Raphael's fresco of 'The Fire in the Borgo', painted in 1514 in the Stanza dell'Incendio in the Vatican. Lettered with: Thomassin's publishing line and date at lower centre-left, and de Rossi's publishing address on a step at lower left; reference to Raphael's wall-painting on a step at lower left; dedication to Pietro Lanzi, motto and armour at lower right. Annotated in pencil on the back. Not in Ruland (1876). This engraving has often been described as a late state of a rectangular plate generally attributed to Marco Dente (see RCIN 852819). According to Bartsch and many scholars since, Marco Dente's plate was later retouched and published by Philippe Thomassin, who adapted the rectangular format of the engraving to the arched format of the fresco. The present state also bears the publishing address of Giovanni Giacomo de' Rossi.