GIOVANNI DA UDINE
(b. 1487, Udine, d. 1564, Roma)

Stucco Reliefs in a Pilaster

1518-19
Stucco
Loggia on the second floor, Palazzi Pontifici, Vatican

For the decoration of the loggia, Raphael devised the scheme and provided the compositions for the narratives, while the actual work was delegated to the most senior assistants. Giulio Romano took charge of the figurative scenes with Gianfrancesco Penni collaborating on the preparation of the cartoons and Giovanni da Udine as overseer of the decorative areas. As part of the decorative scheme, there is a series of reliefs on the pilasters. The vignettes in three of the stuccoes depart from the prevalent use of ancient models to show actions not only taken from modern life but referring specifically to the work in progress at the site of the loggia.