When Raphael and Bernini Work Together

Inside the Basilica of Santa Maria del Popolo stands one of Rome's most extraordinary chapels: the Chigi Chapel, a one-of-a-kind case in which two absolute geniuses of art — Raphael and Gian Lorenzo Bernini — each left their mark, more than a century apart. Designed by Raphael and completed by Bernini, it is a perfect synthesis of Renaissance and Baroque, commissioned by one of the richest men of his time. A small masterpiece that holds two eras of art within a few square meters.

Agostino Chigi, the Patron

The chapel was commissioned in the early 16th century by the Sienese banker Agostino Chigi, one of the wealthiest men in Rome at the time (the same patron behind the Villa Farnesina). Chigi handed the project to Raphael, who conceived the chapel as a refined space on a centralized plan, crowned by a dome decorated in mosaic depicting God and the planets, following a learned, symbolic program. When both men died, the work was left unfinished for many years.

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Bernini's Contribution

More than a century later, another Chigi — by then Pope Alexander VII — commissioned Gian Lorenzo Bernini to complete the chapel. Bernini added his Baroque touch with two extraordinary sculptures: Habakkuk and the Angel and Daniel in the Lions' Den, which engage in a dynamic dialogue across the space. So, within a single chapel, Raphael's Renaissance harmony and Bernini's Baroque movement live side by side.

What to Look For

  • The marble pyramids marking the Chigi funerary monuments.
  • The dome mosaic designed by Raphael (God and the planets).
  • Bernini's sculptures: Habakkuk and the Angel, Daniel and the lion.
  • The elegance of the centralized-plan architecture.

A Masterpiece by Two Hands

The Chigi Chapel is so captivating precisely because of its dual nature: begun by Raphael at the height of the Renaissance and completed by Bernini at the heart of the Baroque. Few places on earth let you see, within a few meters, the direct face-off between two of the greatest artists who ever lived. For the full picture of the basilica, see the complete guide to Santa Maria del Popolo.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Chigi Chapel? A chapel in Santa Maria del Popolo designed by Raphael for the banker Agostino Chigi and completed more than a century later by Bernini: a rare meeting of Renaissance and Baroque.

What did Raphael do? He conceived the chapel on a centralized plan along with its decorative program, including the dome mosaic with God and the planets.

What did Bernini add? The Baroque sculptures Habakkuk and the Angel and Daniel in the Lions' Den, plus interventions that completed the space, commissioned by Pope Alexander VII (of the Chigi family).

Who was Agostino Chigi? An immensely rich Sienese banker of the 16th century, also the patron behind the Villa Farnesina: he had the chapel built as a family monument.

Where is it located? In the Basilica of Santa Maria del Popolo, on Piazza del Popolo. Admission to the basilica is generally free.

See Also

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Article #607 · Category: Monuments · Updated: May 2026