Raffaello - inv 165 A

A technical drawing on gridded paper showing the octagonal ground plan of a chapel featuring stepped niches and rounded corners. Numerical measurements in 'palmi' are noted along the perimeter and in the center to define the geometric proportions of the space. The layout reflects the High Renaissance ideal of a centrally planned sacred space based on mathematical harmony.

The Chigi Chapel is a primary monument of Renaissance Neoplatonism, designed as a microcosm where the soul's ascent is mapped through planetary deities and celestial geometry. Raphael’s use of the octagon and precise ratios relates to the contemporary philosophical belief that architectural harmony could mirror the divine order of the cosmos.