Theology

A print reproducing one of the four roundels painted on the vault of the Stanza della Segnatura in the Vatican. Final state, lettered with title and production details. In this state the name of Stefano Tofanelli, who in an earlier state was acknowledged as the intermediary draughtsman, has been replaced by that of Bernardino Nocchi. Bernini Pezzini (in Raphael Invenit 1985) suggested that this change may have been made in order to amend a mistake. 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: Poetry (RCIN 852622), Philosophy (RCIN 852633) and Justice (RCIN 852637). Passavant (1860) dated this engraving 1781. The same date was indicated by Engelmann (1866) for the whole series.

The roundel reproduced in this print depicts the allegorical figure of Theology, flanked by two winged putti holding inscribed panels. In the Stanza della Segnatura, it is painted above the fresco of the 'Disputa'.