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Pitture Dipinte Nella Volta Della Cappella Sistina Nel Vaticano

RA Collection: Book

Record number

06/3532

Imprint

In Roma: Presso Carlo Losi, l'anno 1773.

Physical Description

68 pl. (incl. t.pl.); 180 mm.

Responsibility Note

Plate 1 (title-plate) is unsigned; plates 2, 4-68, are signed 'AS'. Plate 3 (port. of Michelangelo) is signed as made by Christophorus Blancus (with date 1612).

References

A. Moltedo, La Sistina riprodotta [exhibition catalogue] (1991), no. 19, p.80-97; S. Boorsch and J. Spike, ed., Italian artists of the sixteenth century (1987) (= vol. 31 of The Illustrated Bartsch, ed. W. Strauss).

Summary Note

This publication is a new edition of a set of plates probably first published at some time in the 16th century. That edition consisted of 73 numbered plates (incl. t.pl.). Losi's edition has added two plates (an additional title-plate with his imprint, and a portrait of Michelangelo), renumbered and re-arranged all plates, and apparently reproduced only 66 of the original 73 plates.

The work shows the frescoes painted by Michelangelo between 1508 and 1512 on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel of the Vatican palace in Rome. These depict nine episodes in the narrative of the Biblical book of Genesis - from the creation of the world and man to the life of Noah; which are supported by images of prophets and other Biblical figures and by sybils, who refer to the salvation-history that would culminate in the advent of Christ.

The plates show: 1. (new title-plate); 2. (old title-plate, 'Michael Angelus Bonarotus Pinxit Adam Sculptor Mantuanus Incidit'); 3. portrait of Michelangelo, captioned 'Michael Angelus Bonarotus Patritius Florentinus An. Agens LXXIV.'; 4-68. details of the ceiling frescoes of the Sistine Chapel (these show supporting figures only, not the nine central panels).

Provenance

The title-plate is inscribed in ink, 'Hy Howard'; to which has been added in ink, 'Presented to the Library by ... Esq Sec. R.A.'

Binding Note

18th-century half white vellum, marbled-papered boards; unlettered.

Name as Subject

Subject

Bible., Genesis
Mural paintings, Italian - Mural painting and decoration, Italian - Paintings, Italian - Paintings, European - Church decoration and ornament - Chapels - Churches, Italian - Palaces, Italian - Italy - Rome - Vatican City - Vatican Palace (Vatican City) - Cappella Sistina (Vatican Palace, Vatican City) - History - 16th century - Renaissance
Christian art and symbolism - Iconography
Pictorial works - Italy - 18th century

Contributors

Adamo Scultori, engraver
Michelangelo Buonarroti, source artist
Carlo Losi, publisher
Henry Howard RA, previous owner, donor
Christophorus Blancus, engraver

Images from this book

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