Santa Maria del Popolo Capella Chigi Kuppel

This circular mosaic represents the Renaissance conception of the universe, featuring a central medallion of God the Father with his arms raised in a gesture of creation. Radiating from the center are eight panels containing personifications of the seven planets and the fixed stars, each accompanied by an angel that serves as its celestial mover. The composition combines classical pagan imagery with Christian theology, set against a rich background of blue and gold tesserae.

The program reflects the Neoplatonic and Hermetic synthesis of the 16th century, illustrating the soul's path through the planetary spheres governed by divine intelligences. It serves as a visual bridge between the Ptolemaic astronomical system and the theological belief in God's direct administration of the cosmos through angelic intermediaries.