Saint Leo and Attila

The composition shows Pope Leo I and his retinue on the left, calmly confronting the chaotic forces of Attila on the right. Above the encounter, the figures of Saints Peter and Paul appear in the clouds, brandishing swords to defend the holy city. This work is a preparatory study or early copy after the famous fresco in the Stanza di Eliodoro in the Vatican.

The scene illustrates the Renaissance concept of 'Providentia Dei' (Divine Providence), where the spiritual authority of the Church, backed by supernatural intervention, triumphs over brute force. It reflects the political theology of the Papal court, positioning Rome as a sacred center protected by the Princes of the Apostles.