The Prince of Painters

A corridor down, Michelangelo is undertaking the greatest solo project in the history of the art world, the painting of the Sistine Chapel. Raphael Sanzio, working under the shadow of his greatest idol, will unknowingly become Michelangelo’s rival. Resentful of the young upstart, Michelangelo was especially demanding and even at times cruel to Raphael as they toiled away in the Vatican. This contention became the stuff of legend.

While Michelangelo painted the famous walls and ceilings of the Sistine Chapel, Raphael labored in the papal apartments that are now known as the “Stanze di Raffaello” (Raphael’s rooms).  The rooms are all of the fresco paintings. This technique is comprised of painting of plaster on walls, ceilings and other flat surfaces. An artist will apply plaster on the preferred surface and as it dried they would paint on the drying plaster giving the surface depth.  Unlike painting with oils, frescos provide clear luminous colors and its durability makes it the ideal style for regal and embellished murals. The four rooms of Raphael would earn him the nickname “The Prince of Painters.”

The first room is known as the Sala di Constantino (Hall of Constantine). Dedicated to the triumph of Christianity over Paganism, the frescoes illustrate the struggle from the life of the Roman Emperor Constantine. The most notable fresco is The Vision of the Cross. The fresco depicts the legendary tale of a cross appearing in the sky that led to Constantine’s victory over Maxentius. The Fresco is rich in color and symbolism with odd figures of dragon’s and dwarfs. The cross in the sky is emitting o powerful ray of light with the words “Εν τούτω νίκα” (By this, conquer) the divine message sent to Constantine.

The second room is called the Stanza di Eliodoro (Room of Heliodorus).  The room is a dedication for God’s divine protection granted by Christ. The most prominent fresco in the room is The Expulsion of Heliodorus from the Temple. The fresco captures the story of Heliodorus who was sent to steal the treasures of the Temple of Jerusalem, but was casted away by angels who answered the prayer of the temples priest. In this room, Raphael focused on the emotions of each figure in the frescos. The figures portrayed are moving in dramatic ways that captures the viewer’s attention.  Lighting in each painting also gives the frescoes tension and vivid emotions not portrayed to such degree in the other rooms.

The third room, Stanza della Segnatura (Room of the Signatura) gives credit to worldly and spiritual wisdom and harmony, a common theme in Renaissance humanist. The theme is appropriate considering this is where the papal documents are signed and sealed. The most prominent fresco and perhaps Raphael’s most famous work is The School of Athens which represents the degrees of knowledge and truth acquired through reason. At the center of the fresco are the two Greek philosophers Plato and Aristotle, highlighting the classical Greek philosophy popular to renaissance humanists. Take a step back and you can see the building is shaped like the Greek cross showing the harmony between Pagan philosophy and Christian theology.  This magnum opus represents the perfect embodiment of the classical spirit of the Renaissance era.

The Forth and last room is called the Stanza dell’incendio del Borgo (Fire in the Borgo) which pays homage to Pope’s Leo III and Leo IV.  The most noteworthy fresco is perhaps the Fire in the Borgo which illustrates Pope Leo IV extinguishing a ravaging fire with his benediction. If you look to your left you can see the incorporation of the classical story of Aeneas (the young man) carrying his father Anchises (the old man being carried) from the fires of Troy; Raphael is symbolizing that Rome has become the new great city of Troy.

The Stanze di Raffaello became Raphael’s greatest work of art. The “Prince of Painters” would forever live on in the four rooms of the Vatican to forever be remembered as one of the greatest artists to live. This concluded For Beginners three part series in Renaissance art leave us a comment and tell us how we did!

To learn more about frescos check out Art Theory For Beginners.