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Raphael stanze
Museum:
Pope’s apartments wonderfully decored with Raphael’s frescos
History:
In 1508, Pope Julius II della Rovere called Michelangelo and Raphael at his service. Among the two painters there was a strong rivalry for being the best. Raffaello was entrusted to decorate the papal apartments, dedicated to reunions and solemn ceremonies.
Raphael’s work also continued under Pope Leo X and was finished by his students after his death (1520).
Collections:
“Raphael's Stanze” are four: “Room of Constantine”, “Room of Heliodorus”, “Room of the Fire in the Borgo” and “Room of the Segnatura”.
The latter is deemed one of Raphael’s greater masterpiece.
The fresco’s theme is “the Truth, the Good and the Beautiful”;
to represent the “True” the painter chose the Theology
(True supernatural) and the Philosophy (True rational), realizing
the “Disputation over the Most Holy Sacrament” and the “School of Athens”;
for the “Well” he depicted the Theological Virtues (Faith, Hope
and Charity) and the Cardinal ones (Fortitude, Prudence and Temperance);
for the “Beautiful” he represented the “Parnassus” in which Apollo plays his lyre
inspired from the nine muses and from sublime poets as Saffo, Humerus,
Virgilio and Dante.
Finished this marvelous room, Raphael devoted to he Heliodorus’ one, used for Pope’s private hearings and already painted by Lotto, Bramantino and Signorelli. Their frescos are admirable near those of Sanzio in which is celebrated the Church’s power through the centuries.
When Pope Julius II died Leo X succeded him. Raphael wanted to exalt him in the “room of the fire in the Borgo”’s paintings, gaving his facing to the other Popes broughting his name and about which The Sanzio painted the braveries.
The last room is devoted to Constantine, the first emperor who granted cult’s liberty. Unfortunately Raphael died leaving his students realizing his work.
