So compreliensive and extended were the views of Raphael in all things relating to liis works, that he kept designers employed in all parts of Italy, at Puzzuolo and even in Greece, to the end that he might want nothing of that ivhich appertained to his art; and for this he spared neither labour nor cost.
Pursuing his works in the Vatican, Raphael decorated one of the halls in terretta,[1] depicting several of the Apostles and numerous Saints,[2] whom he has represented standing in niches or tabernacles.[3] There also he caused his disciple Giovanni da Udine, who had not his equal in the delineation of animals, to paint all those then in the possession of Pope Leo X.; the chameleon, for example, the civet cat, the apes, the parrots, the lions, the elephants,[4] and other animals from distant lands. He also adorned many of the floors and other parts of the palace with grottesche and other embellishments; and gave the design for certain of the staircases, as well as for the loggie commenced by the architect Bramante, but which remained incomplete at the death of that master, when they were continued after a new design, and with many changes in the architecture, by Raphael himself, who prepared a model in wood, the arrangement and decoration of which were richer and more beautiful than that proposed by Bramante.
Pope Leo, desiring to show the greatness of his magnificence and generosity, caused Raphael to make designs for the ornaments in stucco, which he had resolved to have
- ↑ Terretta, othermse called Terra di Cava, or, as by Baldinucci, Terra da Boccali. “The earth or clay used in making earthenware for the service of the table, and which, being mixed with powdered charcoal, was employed for making grounds, for painting chiari-scuri, and even for the tints. It is found in Rome, near St. Peter’s, and at Monte Spertoli, thirteen miles from Florence, and appears to resemble what in England is called ‘ China clay.’ ” —From a note to the Ancient Treatises on the Arts of Painting, admirably translated, with valuable notes, by Mrs. Merrifield. See the Voipato Manuscript, vol. ii. p. 730.
- ↑ Christ and the twelve apostles rather. —L. Schorn.
- ↑ These works were nearly destroyed by Pope Pius IV., who changed the Hall into a series of smaller chambers, but when its original form was restored to the apartment by Gregory XIII., that pontiff caused all then remaining to be restored by Taddeo Zucchero. The figures of Christ and his Apostles are best known to us through the engravings of Marcantonio.
- ↑ Leo X. had received the present of an elephant from the king of Portugal, and had its portrait taken, in compliment to the Roman people, to whom the animal had furnished much amusement.—e7d. Flor 1832-8.
