Apostolic Palace Decorations in the Third Loggia
The “Loggia by Raphael”, is a magnificent architectural prospect that overlooks the San Damaso Courtyard. Pope Mastai Ferretti commissioned the new decorations to Alessandro Mantovani, painter and decorator from Ferrara, who in the previous years had restored paintings from the 1500’s in the northern and western wings of the Loggias, along with Pietro Galli.
The walls of the Third Loggia are decorated with inventive grotesqueries and elegant elements related to animals and vegetation. Among these, the exotic species like a tapir or birds with colorful feathers, which manage to coexist with the refined embellishments of the Loggia of Raphael thanks to the meticulous attention to detail by the artist. Decorations are characterized by refined medallions in white stucco with a golden mosaic background, made by Pietro Galli, depicting pagan and Christian figures. At the focus of each vault, there is the emblem of Pius IX, made in gilded wood and paint that even more emphasizes the preexisting decorative characteristics from the 1500’s. Along with the emblem, there are gilded inscriptions on a turquoise background that were dictated by Giulio Barluzzi (the “bussolante pontificio” of Pius IX) and that were then framed in rectangular “folders”.
The restoration work includes, repair of the tempura paintings due to water damage, re-attachment of the paint layer and gilding, repair of cracks on the vaults and walls, cleaning process, correction of the over-painting on both sides of the Loggia and application of protective varnishes.
