Stanza di Constantino
by RAFFAELLO's workshop
The frescoes in the Stanza di Constantino were executed by Raphael's pupils after his death. The work was coordinated by Giulio Romano who also painted the main scenes: The Vision of the Cross, The Battle at Pons Milvius, and the Donation of Rome. The room is named after the subjects of the frescoes.
After the death of Raphael, Michelangelo had applied to Leo X through Sebastiano, del Piombo, an artist with whom Michelangelo was on friendly terms, to decorate the Stanza di Constantino. However, despite the great success of his work in the Sistine Chapel, Michelangelo was rejected on the grounds that Raphael's pupil already had their master's designs, and it was these that would be painted.
The theme of the Sala di Costantino is the Church's rightful possession of lands supposedly donated to it by the Emperor Constantine in submission to the will of God. Since the deed of the Donation of Constantine had been proved to be a forgery dating from AD 750, Pope Leo X was here attempting to re-establish the Church's rightful claim.
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