Creation of the World

Looking up into the dome, a central medallion shows God the Father in a forceful gesture of creation. Surrounding him are eight panels featuring classical deities representing the planets—such as Saturn with his scythe and Jupiter with his eagle—each accompanied by an angel who directs the motion of their respective sphere. The architecture framing these mosaics creates a view into a complex, divinely ordered universe.

This work represents the Renaissance Neoplatonic synthesis of Christian theology and Ptolemaic cosmology, visualizing the 'Angelic Intelligences' that move the heavens. It reflects the intellectual world of Agostino Chigi, who sought to reconcile his astrological beliefs with his Catholic faith through the idea of divine providence governing the stars.