Giulio Romano - Battle of the Milvian Bridge or the Battle of Constantine, AKG6035312

This large-scale preparatory drawing, or cartoon, depicts a crowded and kinetic scene of soldiers and horses during the battle between Constantine the Great and Maxentius. On the left, a horseman maneuvers with a shield, while on the right, an archer draws his bow amidst fallen soldiers. The composition emphasizes the physical turmoil and monumental scale intended for the finished Vatican fresco.

The battle is inextricably linked to Constantine's vision of the Chi-Rho, a moment of divine revelation that served as a core narrative for the triumph of the Church over paganism. Within the Renaissance intellectual framework, Constantine was often viewed through a Neoplatonic lens as a divinely guided ruler whose actions harmonized earthly power with celestial will.