Explore the Santa Maria del Popolo about the Provenance of this artwork, Portrait of Pope Julius II.
Julius II commissioned from Raphael this painting and Madonna of Loreto which resided at Santa Maria del Popolo,  at the entrance gate to Rome. Upon the portrait's completion, it was exhibited in the church for eight days, where many people came to see it. According to Marino Sanuto the Younger, "it was like a jubilee, so many people went there."An array of Renaissance artists were brought in to decorate  Santa Maria del Popolo, 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. Aside from their dimensions, 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 an altar in the domed chapel.  Although the paintings were paired for a time, through change of ownership the "Madonna of Loreto" is now located in the Musée Condé,  Chantilly.As a means of indicating Julius' appreciation of the Madonna, which resulted in the pairing of paintings, Julius commissioned   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 rival suppositions about the circumstances surrounding the history of the painting after it was removed from Santa Maria del Popolo, partly because there were many copies of the painting and partly due to delays in publication of vital documents.
Santa Maria del Popolo Julius Sistine Madonna Raphael Madonna of Loreto Julius II Marino Sanuto the Younger Musée Condé