Raphael and the Final Virtues

In the Stanza of Constantine in the Vatican, two Virtues are displayed that represent the final works of Raphael Sanzio: Comitas, or Gentleness, and Iustitia, Justice. These figures were part of an ambitious decorative commission conceived within an iconographic program centered on the figure of Constantine, the first Christian emperor.

An Innovative Artistic Experiment

Raphael envisioned a groundbreaking and highly ambitious project, experimenting with a pictorial technique that was still uncommon at the time. The method involved applying oil pigments onto a support made of colophony, a particularly malleable type of wax. This innovative process allowed for remarkable visual effects, producing luminous, shifting colors of extraordinary depth.

It is likely that Raphael intended to decorate the entire hall using this technique, relying on the collaboration of highly skilled artists. His sudden death in 1520, however, brought the project to an abrupt halt. What remains of his vision are these two Virtues, placed on opposite walls, perhaps as models or guiding examples for his workshop.

The Work of Raphael’s Pupils

After Raphael’s death, his pupils Giovan Francesco Penni and Giulio Romano abandoned this experimental technique and turned instead to traditional fresco painting. Unable — or perhaps unwilling — to pursue the full ambition of their master’s original vision, they completed the room using fresco, achieving nonetheless a remarkable visual harmony with Raphael’s figures.

This balance was made possible by a pictorial surface characterized by bold, superficial brushstrokes and numerous a secco finishes, which allowed the later work to dialogue convincingly with the master’s contributions.

From Raphael to Mannerism

The striking contrast between Raphael’s delicate, refined brushwork and the strong chromatic intensity of his pupils’ figures is both surprising and revealing. This visual tension introduces the viewer to a new artistic language that was soon to fully emerge: Mannerism.