Dome Cappella Chigi from inside, Santa Maria del Popolo, Rome, Italy

The central oculus of this dome depicts God the Father in a gesture of creation, looking down from the highest heaven. Eight surrounding mosaic panels represent the celestial spheres of the Ptolemaic universe, featuring the Sun, Moon, and five known planets personified as classical deities, alongside the firmament of fixed stars. Each celestial body is accompanied by an angel who directs its motion, set against a gold background within a complex architectural frame.

This work is a visual synthesis of Renaissance Neoplatonism and Christian theology, illustrating the 'Harmony of the Spheres.' It reflects the belief that the mathematical and astrological order of the cosmos is an expression of the divine mind, governed by angelic intelligences.