Hall of Constantine

The Hall of Constantine, the largest of the Stanze, was commissioned to Raphael in 1517, who set to work devising a composition that was supposed to represent the triumph of Christianity; he prepared drawings and cartoons, but on April 6, 1520 suddenly died.

It is not clear if he had already begun the frescoes before the death, however, five days after his death Sebastiano del Piombo wrote to Michelangelo, asking him to intercede in order he  could succeed to Raphael. Michelangelo wrote to Cardinal Bibbiena, a friend of Pope Leo X supporting the nomination of "Sebastian", but with great indignation of Sebastiano del Piombo, the continuation of the work was left to those who despisingly Sebastian called the boys of Raphael: Giulio Romano and Giovanni Francesco Penni, supported by at least three other aids.

It is reasonable to conjecture that the decision of Leo X, certainly comforted by Bibbiena, has been determined by the desire that the Stanza was painted according to the will of Raphael and his assistants ensured the full fidelity to their friend and master.
Certainly they all committed themselves to the best of their ability in order not to regret the death of Raphael and the couple Giulio Romano and Francesco Penni worked brilliantly, because if Giulio Romano, in the workshop of Raphael, was the most talented artist, Penni was the most faithful interpreter of the master.

The fresco cycle begins on the east wall with the Vision of the Cross. In the fresco there is the portrait of  the jester of the court of Leo X and on the same wall there is a remarkable portrait of St. Peter.

the Vision of the Cross	the jester of the court of Leo X	St. Peter

On the south wall we can see the fresco of the battle against Maxentius

the battle against Maxentius

On the west wall there is the fresco depicting the Baptism of Constantin, in which is portrayed the same Giulio Romano and the German banker Anton Fugger.

Baptism of Constantine	Giulio Romano	Anton Fugger

Closes the loop on the north wall The Donation of Rome, in which is painted the apse of the ancient St. Peter's Basilica.

The Donation of Rome	The Donation of Rome (particular: the ancient St. Peter's Basilica)

The ceiling of the hall, which was originally wooden, alas! was painted by Thomas Laureti from 1580, commissioned by Pope Gregory XIII.

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