Ramón Sopena Publishing — The Peace of Jacopo Sansovino, 1962 — ink on paper

A female figure occupies the center of an elaborate architectural niche, framed by columns, moldings, and a large scallop shell. This is Peace, one of the figures linked to Jacopo Sansovino's sculptural program for the Loggetta in St. Mark's Square, Venice.

Created in 1962 for El mundo del saber (The World of Knowledge) by Editorial Ramón Sopena, this drawing is an original editorial illustration intended for page 119 of the publication. The sheet also preserves archival annotations and the publisher's own stamp on the reverse, direct testimony of its use within the book's production process.

The Work

The illustration is executed in black ink on paper, with a particularly clean and precise technique. The artist reproduces both the sculptural figure and a large part of its architectural frame, using regular lines and solid blacks that ensured a clear reproduction when reducing the image for printing.

The figure appears standing, with her head slightly tilted and a serene expression. A set of attributes is arranged at her feet, while the architectural background—pilasters, columns, arch, and ornamental shell—adds a marked verticality to the composition.

The reverse expressly identifies the motif:

“La Paz (sculpture by Jacobo Sansovino). Venice – Loggetta of St. Mark's Square.”

It also retains the stamp of Editorial Ramón Sopena, S.A., Barcelona, corresponding to its archive, as well as internal cataloging references. The documentation allows the piece to be linked to El mundo del saber and its use on page 119.

Jacopo Sansovino and the Loggetta of St. Mark's

Jacopo Sansovino (1486–1570) was one of the great sculptors and architects of the Italian Renaissance. Much of his career was linked to Venice, where he intervened decisively in the monumental transformation of the St. Mark's Square area.

Among his most well-known projects is the Loggetta located at the foot of the St. Mark's Campanile, conceived as a small ceremonial building of great ornamental richness. Its sculptural program integrated various allegorical and mythological figures, including the representation of Peace that serves as the model for this illustration.

The choice of this image within an encyclopedic work like El mundo del saber responded to a clearly didactic purpose: to present the reader with prominent examples of Renaissance sculpture and architecture through easily recognizable images.

Technical Data Sheet

Title: Peace by Jacopo Sansovino
Publisher: Editorial Ramón Sopena, S.A., Barcelona
Publication: El mundo del saber
Date of original: 1962
Page: 119
Technique: Black ink on paper
Dimensions: 20.5 × 16 cm
Type of work: Original editorial illustration
Subject: Renaissance sculpture, Venice, Jacopo Sansovino
Author of the drawing: Unidentified
Reverse: Handwritten identification and archival annotations; Editorial Ramón Sopena stamp
Provenance: Editorial Ramón Sopena graphic archive
Condition: Good general condition, with slight marks and annotations typical of its use as editorial material.

Workshop Note

In this piece, we are especially interested in the ability to follow the drawing from its original function to the printed page.

The reverse retains the exact identification of the sculpture, its location in Venice, and the publisher's internal references, while the obverse shows the finished drawing prepared for reproduction. It is a small example of how an encyclopedia was visually constructed before digital editing.

The carefully traced architecture and the elegance of the central figure also make it function as an autonomous graphic work, beyond its didactic origin.