Raphael brilliance at the Vatican

One of the finest artists of the Renaissance, Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino (1483-1520) designed magnificent frescoes for the Vatican private residence and its Loggia.

Raphael adorned the rooms of the apartment of Pope Julius II. Then, Pope Leo X commissioned Raphael to decorate the loggia adjoining the Pope’s residence. With his assistants during 1518-1519 (the last two years of his life), Raphael painted his designs on the pilasters (supporting pillars), ceiling vaults and arches. A testament to his genius, they are a High Renaissance masterpiece of classical design.

250 years later, to record Raphael’s brilliance, Pope Clement XIII ordered the intricate designs of Raphael's early 16^th century frescoes to be engraved onto copperplates for Le Logge di Rafaele nel Vaticano (The Loggia by Raphael at the Vatican) published circa 1772-1777. An ambitious project, each of the very large engravings was superbly hand-coloured with gouache and watercolour.

In the loggia, at the base of each ceiling vault is a beautiful arch decorated with garlands of fruit and flowers, and friezes with architectural design embellished with gods, graces, and mythical beasts. The central vertical folds on the large copperplate engravings of the ceiling arches indicate the size of this grand publication. The images are approximately 33cm x 57cm

Each pilaster fresco was engraved on two large copperplates. Each joined pair measures 105cm x 44cm, and was superbly hand-coloured to accentuate Raphael’s imaginative grotesque motifs of beribboned flowers and fruit, gods and graces of mythology, and fine architectural decoration. Where detail had deteriorated and was illegible, design elements from Raphael’s Vatican tapestries were used.

The elegance and classical beauty of Raphael’s design – in particular his grotesques - greatly influenced neo-classical style. The grand engravings of Raphael’s pilasters were considered to be so important that ten years later they were engraved in pairs half the size of the first publication, so that each pair measured 37 x 50cm. Again in 1813, these exquisitely detailed copperplate engravings were published in Paris by Pierre-Philippe Choffard (1730-1809). 

Once again they were brilliantly hand-coloured in gouache and watercolour.  (Two pairs - each from sets of 6 - are shown here, framed in beautiful hand-made gold-leaf frames, or hand-made gilded antique veneered frames.)

These stunning 18th century engravings recording the brilliance of Raphael's fresco designs for the Vatican are of a style and quality more often seen in the Museums of Europe. It is rare that they are available to grace the walls and be enjoyed in your own home.

These magnificent original 18th century engravings of Raphael's beautiful frescoes at the Vatican are currently on display at the Brisbane Antique Emporium at Clayfield (open every day).  Some of them can also be seen in the Antique Prints: Classical/Design section of our website at http://www.antiqueprintclub.com/c-22-classicaldesign.aspx.
For further information or assistance please contact Derek or Kathryn Nicholls at sales@antiqueprintclub.com   

Easy but Thoughtful Present-buying

It's that time of year again! Knowing what someone likes makes finding a gift much easier. What do they wear, surround themselves with or talk about? What do they like? There's nothing nicer than recognition of someone's interests. Why not buy a picture of something that interests them? Antique prints cover most subjects. 

Friends: Gold-rush c1853

Antique prints and maps can be large or small, expensive or not, conventional or strange, really old or surprisingly modern-looking. Antique means they are over 100 years old (and could be up to 400 years old). Rarity, condition and demand affect cost.

Australian historical antiques.
Colonial days in the Australian country and cities are fascinating reminders of how much our culture has evolved. Most people living here appreciate the early scenes of our country - even humorous engravings of experiences of immigrants from around the world - particularly during the gold-rushes.

Superb spray of orchids c1880

Botany, birds & animals.
From London and Paris c1800, we have engravings of the earliest flowers discovered in Australia. Gardeners who loves Australian native plants, or have a favourite plant or shrub in the garden, will surely appreciate an antique print that shows its flower all year round. As well as lithographs of Australian orchids, there are grand lithographs c1880 from H.G. Moon watercolours of orchids from all the world. Colours and shapes of foliage and flowers (even with finely engraved dissections), & almost-modern graphics of leaves, ferns, and fruit are decorative and timeless.

Phillip's Voyage. High-flyer c1789

Most people enjoy listening to and watching birds, but is it small or larger birds that appeal? Grand hand-coloured lithographs of Australian birds (and animals) are by John Gould c1840-1880. Small engravings by William Lizars c1840 are of exquisite detail and colour. Inexpensive but finely detailed are French hand-coloured engravings c1820-60 that have a few birds or animals to each page, or single bird portraits by Reverend Morris of the same period, - and groups of animals and birds. Children love the animals - as well as the more conventional choice of story book or nursery rhyme lithographs.

Faience. God of Wine c1870

Artefacts, Professions & Trades.
A porcelain collector might not have access to the finest Sevres or Faience, but will love beautiful porcelain lithographs to hang on the wall. Lithographs and engravings of early grand or simple furniture including those used by kings (including Egyptian tomb paintings) will appeal to more than interior designers and architects - as would the grace of classical building and landscape design, - and both flamboyant and simple 18^th century design for furnishings, ceiling and wall decoration. 

Aren't we beautiful! c1792

Builders might appreciate carved wood or stone architectural details from 17th to 19th century or early machinery illustration.

Early engravings of medical instruments c1800, and anatomy lithographs c1880, are startling and informative. Many have seen 19^th century caricatures of the legal fraternity, but did you know this series also featured lithographs of politicians, sportsmen, and anyone else who was newsworthy?

Goethe. Must get dressed..

Entertainment.
Not only musicians appreciate engravings and lithographs of ancient instruments. They add character to any décor - as will 1920s hand-coloured pochoir linking fashion with music in a group with string instruments. Golf is well-covered in humorous Punch cartoon woodcuts, and golf fashion pochoir c1912-1925. 

Interrupted! ..19th hole? 

Everyone enjoys the charming and elegant Gazette du Bon Ton fashion narratives from the early 20th century - particularly those with humorous captions! 

Maps, Marine & Military.
Early military engravings are fascinating. They include 17thC small engravings of fortifications by Mallet and Bartoli's large engravings of Trajan's Roman battles (from the relief on Trajan's column in Rome), 18^thC marine engravings of early voyages, 19^thC finely-engraved battle scenes on land and sea, and naval and army portraits, engravings of the Crimean War, Bartlett's finely engraved English coastal scenes, and all manner of worldwide news. 

Britain-China Opium War & Joss House

Allom's interesting views of China after the first Opium war with Britain, and the sailing ships that carried immigrants and cargo around the world in the19^th century, all make wonderful groups for large wall spaces - or add interest to a corner.

Roman Empire.. Barbarians.. not Australia.

Antique maps show our history, and the political changes of boundaries and inaccurate geography can become quite engrossing – sometimes referred to as Map Pox. The east coast of Australia, discovered by James Cook in 1770, resulted in European settlement in Australia. We have engravings from Captain Cook's voyage, and a wonderful French map from 17 years earlier, where Jacques Nicolas Bellin 'supposes' where the east coast might be.. Antique maps from the 17^th century to the 20^th century are all affordable. There’s a large choice of periods and styles – from as little as $40. A map in recognition of your ancestry, or a map of a country you visited, may not be as much in demand as a map of the world, so will cost less. Quality and rarity will also affect the value, but the finest are harder to find and will always appreciate more.  

Buy securely online 24/7 from http://www.antiqueprintclub.com/
Antique Print Club is open in Brisbane EVERY DAY (unless public holiday)
North-side: Brisbane Antique Emporium 794 Sandgate Road, Clayfield (entry off Junction Road)
South-side: Brisbane Antique Centre [where there are also Heritage Editions reproduction prints/maps displayed separately] at Exit 30 of M1 motorway (Beenleigh-Redland Bay Road junction at Loganholme).

Imagination is the limitation in gift selection - and a knowledge of what is available.. Gift Certificates are always available! Please contact us directly for assistance in your selection from our thousands of antique maps and prints: Derek & Kathryn Nicholls: Email sales@antiqueprintclub.com or  Phone  +61 (0)7.5525 1363 (+61 (0)412 442 283).