Book on line Vatican Tickets to admire the Raphael Rooms
What to see in the Raphael Rooms. Among the masterpieces of the Vatican, the world-famous Raphael Rooms are a definite must and absolutely unforgettable. They beautify the apartments of Pope Julius II, who commissioned Raphaelto decorate them in 1507. In 1509, he’d already started working on the Room of the Segnatura, Julius II’s office and private library. After his first much-admired fresco, the School of Athens, Raphael was made responsible for the entire decorative series. Each wall of the papal library features a fresco depicting the four disciplines of time: theology, philosophy, law, and poetry. The great medallions adorning the ceiling depict the allegories of each discipline.
Raphael's true name was Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino (April 6 1483 – April 6 1520). This great master was an Italian Renaissance painter and architect. His father Giovanni Santi, who was a painter too, taught Raphael basic painting techniques and principles of humanistic philosophy.
Raphael took over his father’s workshop after he died. His paintings where greatly influenced by Italian greatest painters like Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo. Raphael was invited by Pope Julius II to paint the Pope’s private apartments. At that time Raphael was only 25 years old. The rooms which are now known as Raphael’s Rooms are located in one of the Vatican Palace. Raphel's Rooms are undoubtedly one of the must-see masterpiece of the Papal museums.
These rooms are four: the Hall of Constantine, Room of Heliodorus, Room of the Signatura and the Room of the Fire in the Borgo.
The Room of Constantine is the largest of the four rooms. It was painted by Raphael’s students following Raphael's drawings because the artist died before finishing these frescoes The paintings of Room of Constantine depict differnt anecdotes. Fisr of all, the Baptism of Constantine, but also the Vision of the Cross and the Battle of the Milvian Bridge.
The next room is the Room of Heliodorus which Raphael painted himself. This room focuses mostly on pope Julius II life and his predecessors. Frescos represent the victories and the excellency of the Catholic Church. The paintings include the Mass at Bolsena, the Expulsion of Heliodurus from the temple, the meeting of Leo the Great and Attila and the Deliverance of Saint Peter. The Room of the Signatura was the first to be decorated by Raphael. Here he painted the beautiful Disputation of the Holy Sacrament, The School of Athens, The Pamassus and the Cardinal Virtues. Finally, the fourth room, the Room of the Fire in the Borgo. The frescoes in this room depict events from the lives of Pope Leo III and Leo IV. The work follows Raphaels mature designs but fresoes were performed by his assistants. The paintings included Battle of Ostia, The Fire in Borgo, The Coronation of Charlemagne and The Oath of Leo.
When visiting the Vatican, make sure to see Raphael's Rooms. Although Raphael’s career as a painter was short, he made a huge impact on Italian Renaissance panorama.
