In the context of Madonna of Loreto, explore the Santa Maria del Popolo of the Provenance.
Julius II commissioned of Raphael the Madonna of the Veil and his likeness, the Portrait of Pope Julius II which resided at Santa Maria del Popolo,  at the entrance gate to Rome. During this time the painting was also known as Madonna del Popolo or described as The Holy Family.An array of Renaissance artists were brought in to decorate the Santa Maria del Popolo church and its chapels in Rome, beginning with Raphael.  Both paintings by Raphael, Julius II and the Madonna were hung on pillars during feast days or high holy days.The two paintings, nearly the same size, seem as if they were meant to complement each other. Nearly the same size, they also both had a strong vertical orientation.  The eyes of the paintings were downcast and gave a contemplative feeling. The positioning and lighting within the paintings seems to indicate that they were meant to each flank a side of an altar in the domed chapel.  Although the paintings were paired for a time through change of ownership, Julius II is now located in the National Gallery.As a means of indicating Julius' appreciation of the Madonna, which resulted in the pairing of paintings, Julius commissioned another Madonna painting, the Sistine Madonna, in the last year of his life where his adoration is shown by the Pope kneeling at the feet of the Virgin.There are many suppositions about the circumstances surrounding the Madonna painting after Popolo, partly because there were many copies of the painting and partly due to delays in publication of vital documents.
Portrait of Pope Julius II Sistine Madonna Raphael Pope Julius II Julius II