Loggie di Rafaele nel Vaticano

This engraving illustrates a vertical section of the architectural decorations from the Vatican Loggie, executed in the 'grotesque' style. The design consists of stacked compartments containing mythological figures like Jupiter with his eagle and Cybele with her lions, alongside medallions, sphinxes, and a horse. To the right, a lush festoon of pomegranates, melons, and citrus fruits hangs against a vibrant blue background, demonstrating the Renaissance interest in botanical accuracy.

These decorations represent the High Renaissance revival of the 'all'antica' style found in the ruins of Nero's Domus Aurea. Philosophically, the 'grotesque' system reflects Neoplatonic concepts of the plenitude and harmony of the cosmos, where diverse forms of life—natural, human, and mythological—are integrated into a single, ordered hierarchy.