Euphemia fellowship for fine prints before 1800

This fellowship offers the opportunity for scholars specialised in fine art prints to do research on the collections of the Allard Pierson. In 2025, the fellowship will focus on an album that recently has been donated to the Allard Pierson. It contains a rich set of early modern hand-coloured plates of decorative interior work carried out by Raphael in Rome in the early sixteenth century.

Object-based research

The album contains two works: the Logge di Rafaele nel Vaticano, published by Giovanni Volpato and Giovani Ottaviani (Rome, 1772-7), a set of prints that replicate the ornamentation originally painted by Raphael’s workshop (c.1517-19) in the Loggia of the Vatican; and Psyches et Amoris nuptiae fabula, published by Domenico de’ Rossi (Rome, c. 1693), with prints of Raphael’s work for the Loggia di Psyche (1516-18) in the Villa Farnesina. While many of these prints have been kept in single, black-and-white items, this copy consists of prints in yellow ink that have been hand-coloured and bound together in the eighteenth century. Kept in its original binding and presenting an exceptional example of high-quality hand-colouring, this volume offers multiple research avenues on the techniques and the context of production of fine art prints before 1800.

Suggestions for research

• Research on the production context of the Logge: the sponsor and publishers of the edition, their goals and the intended readers at the time of the production;
• Material research on the copy: analysis of the binding and flyleaves, the ink, the colouring materials used for this copy;
• Analysis of the volume as Sammelband and the logic of assembly of the prints: order of the illustrations in the volume, choices in repetitions;
• Census of the other copies of the Logge and comparison of this copy with others (colouring techniques; assembly in volumes; provenances);
• Analysis of the etching and engraving process: techniques, makers, specificity of these prints in the production process and in the market for similar illustrations in the eighteenth century;
• Study of the illustrations from an art history perspective: context of production of the décor at Rafael’s time, reasons for the reproduction of the frescos as prints in the eighteenth century, analysis of the patterns.

Searching the collection

The collections of the Allard Pierson are accessible and searchable online through several databases and catalogues. More information of collections you can find here and see the search portal for access to various catalogues, image databases, general descriptions of collections, and inventories.

The Logge album is accessible for research to the fellow during the whole fellowship. The Allard Pierson also has extensive collections of primary and secondary sources that can be used for the research done on the Logge and on print production in early modern Europe.

It is also possible to submit a request to the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands (Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed, RCE) to make use of the facilities of the RCE lab in Amsterdam, to conduct material analysis on the album.

Questions

Questions about the Logge and the printed collections at the Allard Pierson can be directed to curator Katell Lavéant (k.v.m.p.laveant@uva.nl). For questions about the application process contact Laurien de Gelder (l.i.degelder@uva.nl).

 

Guidelines

Apply here