The vault of the Stanza della Segnatura

A chromolithograph reproducing the ceiling frescoes of the Stanza della Segnatura in the Vatican. Lettered with title and publishing line. Numbered at upper right: 80. Ruland (1876) catalogued this print as published in Ludwig Grüner's 'Specimens of Ornamental Art', London 1850.

In the four roundels are depicted the allegorical figures of Theology, Poetry, Justice, and Philosophy, which are related to the scenes painted on the walls below them and to the four rectangular panels in the corners of the vault, representing The Fall, Apollo and Marsyas, Astronomy and the Judgement of Solomon. Each one of the rectangular panels connects in fact with the roundels to their right and left. The vault is further decorated by pictures situated between the roundels, by a central octagon with winged figures surrounding a papal coat of arms and by oak trees, the heraldic emblem of used by Pope Julius II, who commissioned the Stanza della Segnatura frescoes. There is much debate about the authorship of the vault decoration: Raphael's workshop is supposed to have participated to a certain extent, and the names of Sodoma and Peruzzi have often been put forward.

Grüner's publication, in which 80 plates were accompanied by text by Emil Braun, presents the 'best models' of decorative art from the Classical era to the Renaissance. This volume was dedicated to Prince Albert, with whom Grüner had a close acquaintance. Grüner had much experience reproducing Raphael's work, having previously engraved works in England and Italy attributed to the artist for various publications.