Wikimedia Commons · Public domain · Hover to magnify, click for fullscreen
Original file
About This Work
The composition is divided into two distinct realms: a celestial upper tier where Christ is flanked by the Virgin Mary and John the Baptist, and a terrestrial lower tier where figures surround an altar. On the ground, popes, bishops, and scholars debate the mystery of the Eucharist, which is housed in a monstrance at the center of the horizon. The entire scene is framed within a massive arch that mirrors the physical architecture of the Vatican's Stanza della Segnatura.
Representing Theology, this work serves as a companion to the 'School of Athens' and illustrates the Renaissance attempt to harmonize divine revelation with human reason. Its structured hierarchy reflects the Neoplatonic and Hermetic influences of the papal court under Egidio da Viterbo, mapping the invisible spiritual order onto a visible geometric plane.
Inscriptions(Latin)
DIVINAR RER NOTI TIA SECVN DVM MATTH EVM SECVN DVM MAR CVM SECVN DVM LVC AM SECVN DVM IOAN NEM
Translation
Knowledge of Divine Things According to Matthew According to Mark According to Luke According to John
Connected Texts
Egidio da Viterbo
As a prominent Neoplatonist at the court of Pope Julius II, he is believed to have influenced the theological program of the Raphael Rooms.
Dante Alighieri
Dante is depicted among the theologians on the lower right, reflecting his status as a 'theologian-poet' in the Renaissance tradition.
Provenance & Source
Object
Oil on panel
religious
Digital Source
Wikimedia Commons · Public domain
"Disputation of the Holy Sacrament" by Raphael, Raphael Rooms, Vatican Museum
6000 × 4000 px
Linked Data
AI AI-cataloged fields generated by gemini-3-flash-preview on April 2, 2026. Getty identifiers are AI-inferred and may require verification.