The ceiling of the Stanza della Segnatura

A print reproducing the ceiling decoration of the Stanza della Segnatura in the Vatican. Lettered with production details and text in Latin below image. Numbered at lower right: 15. From Picturae Raphaelis Sanctij Urbinatis ex Aula et Conclavibus Palatij Vaticani..., a series of 18 plates (plus title-page) after Raphael's frescoes in the Vatican published in 1722. The publishing date is to be found on the title-page of the series.

In the four roundels are depicted the allegorical figures of Theology, Poetry, Justice, and Philosophy, which are related to the scenes painted on the walls below them and to the four rectangular panels in the corners of the vault, representing The Fall, Apollo and Marsyas, Astronomy and the Judgement of Solomon. Each one of the rectangular panel connects in fact with the roundels to its right and left. The vault is further decorated by two-parts pictures situated between the roundels, by a central octagon with winged figures surrounding a papal coat of arms and by oak trees, the heraldic emblem of Pope Julius II 'Della Rovere' family. There is much debate about the authorship of the vault decoration: Raphael's workshop is supposed to have participated to a certain extent, and the names of Sodoma and Peruzzi have often been put forward.