The Other Three Rooms by the “Painter-Saint” Raphael

Today, we continue to discuss Raphael’s “Path to Sainthood,” focusing not only on The School of Athens but also on the other three murals in the adjacent rooms, which are equally important.

The Other Three Rooms by the “Painter-Saint” Raphael

1. During his time in Rome, Raphael decorated four rooms in the Papal residence, a series of works that represent his growth. Each room can be seen as a masterpiece, developed over time as Raphael honed his skills and ultimately became known as the “Painter-Saint.”
2. Next to the School of Athens in the Signature Hall is the Room of Heliodorus. The room is named after a fresco titled The Expulsion of Heliodorus, but more significant (though often overlooked) is the adjacent painting—The Liberation of Saint Peter. This fresco, part of a three-part sequence, depicts the Biblical story of Saint Peter being imprisoned by the Romans and rescued by an angel. What stands out in this painting is Raphael’s exploration of light.
3. In The Liberation of Saint Peter, Raphael surpasses the “first master of lighting,” Francesca, by creating an effect similar to a “flashlight.” During the Renaissance, the most notable use of light was Francesca’s upward “spotlight” effect. In Raphael’s work, the angel is surrounded by radiating light, starkly contrasting with the darkness represented by the Roman soldiers, creating a dramatic clash between good and evil. This “masterstroke” was profoundly influential, as seen in Caravaggio’s The Calling of Saint Matthew a century later, showing Raphael’s deep impact on Baroque art.
4. In another room, known as the “Fire Room,” Raphael responded to Michelangelo’s art. One of the murals here, The Fire in Borgo, depicts a fire in a Roman neighborhood, where panic ensues, and Pope Leo IV causes a miracle to extinguish the flames. Previously, Raphael’s figures were calm and beautiful, but in this fire scene, the figures express urgency and anxiety, and the male nude figures show extraordinary muscle development. Raphael demonstrates the sculptural techniques he learned from Michelangelo, capturing dynamic poses while accurately portraying muscular anatomy.
5. The Fire in Borgo bears a strong influence from Michelangelo. Notably, this painting was completed in 1514, just a year after Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel ceiling (which was off-limits for viewing until it was finished). We can imagine that after the Sistine ceiling was unveiled, a young Raphael likely spent many days studying Michelangelo’s monumental work, using his self-taught abilities to quickly master and apply the techniques.
6. The final room, known as the Hall of Constantine, is larger than the other three rooms combined, and its artworks are some of the greatest. This hall was painted between 1520 and 1524, but tragically, Raphael passed away in the first year. According to the customs of the time and available records, Raphael had already created detailed sketches, finalizing every detail in advance. Thus, even though he passed away early, the remaining work was completed by his assistants but is still considered Raphael’s.
7. The most stunning fresco in the Hall of Constantine is The Battle of the Milvian Bridge. In this painting, you can see the seamless fusion of Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo’s styles under Raphael’s genius. After this fusion, it becomes hard to remember the two masters separately, as Raphael dominates the artwork. This painting brilliantly combines Leonardo’s unfinished Battle of Anghiari and Michelangelo’s Battle of Cascina, from the Florentine City Hall’s “War of the Century” series, creating a monumental masterpiece.
8. In his final work, The Battle of the Milvian Bridge, Raphael assembles the “seven dragon balls,” summoning the spirit of the Renaissance. In this painting, we see scenes from The Battle of Anghiari, where warriors fight on horseback, and The Battle of Cascina, where men wrestle in the river. From a panoramic view, the use of perspective is precise, and the number of figures far exceeds those in Uccello’s The Battle of San Romano, a work famous for its large-scale scenes. This colossal painting is a culmination of Renaissance masters, blending perspective, anatomy, large compositions, unusual angles, and a combination of close-ups and long shots. It represents the true peak of the Southern Renaissance, centered in Florence.
9. Although Raphael passed away prematurely, no one can deny that this work still belongs to him. It shows that technique is never the most important thing; the artist’s understanding of art is paramount. Raphael’s apprentices and assistants, following his legacy, were able to complete this extraordinary masterpiece.