The preparatory cartoon for Raphael’s The School of Athens, after four years of intense work, goes on view in a new setting designed by Studio Boeri. The cartoon is housed in a display case sealed by a single sheet of glass, the largest of its kind in Europe. A true rarity – preparatory cartoons were usually destroyed or lost – this work was purchased by Cardinal Borromeo for his Ambrosiana project, where it became one of the most prestigious and significant works in the collection.

The current publication, in picture book form, provides readers with an immersive experience of the Cartoon, together with a series of superb, life-size illustrations accompanied by clear descriptions providing a handy guide to understanding the work.

Book design studio Leonardo Sonnoli.