Raphael, Marriage of

the Virgin, 1504

Donato Bramante, The Tempietto, 1502-11

Known as the Tempietto (“little temple”) because of its small size and forms reminiscent of a classical temple, the building was commissioned by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain.

It marks the spot where (it was mistakenly believed) St. Peter was crucified, and in fact its domed, circular form makes reference to that of an Early Christian martyrium – a small, domed structure or chamber where the earliest Christians sometimes buried their martyred saints.

Diagram of the

Doric Order

Plan of the Tempietto set in a

surrounding courtyard that was

never executed

Bramante, ground plan of St. Peter’s, 1506

San Lorenzo

Bronze medal with Pope Julius II on the obverse and view of St. Peter’s on reverse

The Pantheon—the most famous

ancient Roman temple in the world

Basilica of Constantine—the

largest vaulted structure of the

ancient world

St. Peter’s as actually built

Bramante, Palazzo Caprini (“House of Raphael”), c. 1512

Giulio Romano,

Courtyard of the

Palazzo del Te (Mantua),

c. 1527-34

Michelangelo, Vestibule of Laurentian Library, begun 1523

Palladio’s Villa Rotonda

compared with two

ancient Roman temples

Villa Rotonda