Eleven plates from the Second Floor of 'Le Loggie di Raffaello' in the Vatican Palace, including a cross section

These magnificent 18th century engravings are direct renderings of the early 16th century grotesque decorations adorning the walls of the Loggie di Raffaelo in the Vatican Palace. Raphael was originally commissioned by Pope Julius II to decorate the walls and ceilings of the Loggie which formed part of his private papal apartments in the Vatican, the ceilings predominately portraying scenes from the Old Testament. The walls consist of pilaster frescoes, being Raphael's conception but were predominately executed by his assistant Giovanni da Udine during the reign of Pope Leo X. These wall panels of plants and flowers, fruit tendrils, mythological figures and fabulous creatures combined with architectural elements were something new and were directly inspired by the then newly excavated ancient Roman decorations adorning Nero's Golden House on the Esquiline.