Adoration Of The Magi, 18th Century, By Perin Del Vaga (1501-1547)

18th century, by Perin del Vaga (1501-1547)
Adoration of the Magi
Oil on canvas, 47 x 36 cm

The present reproduces a hexagonal scene decorated with frescoes in the thirteenth time of the so-called Loggia di Raffaello in the Apostolic Palace (City of the Vatican). Part of the building designed by Bramante for Julius II as an elevation of the palace of Niccolò III, this Loggia, bordering the famous Halls, was entirely decorated with frescoes by the Raphael school between 1517 and 1519, on cartoons from Urbinate. While the first twelve bays or vaults in which the gallery is divided each show four scenes from the Old Testament, the last, the thirteenth, instead shows episodes from the New. These are the Nativity, the Adoration of the Magi, Baptism and the Last Supper. They were all attributed by Vasari to Perin Del Vaga (1501-1547), an attribution that was accepted and supported by later art history critic. Only Filippini (Art Bulletin, 1929) attributes them to Tommaso Vincidor of Bologna, while Hartt to Giovan Francesco Penni in collaboration with Giulio Romano.