The Sala de' Pontefici, or the Hall of Constantine, as it is sometimes called, remained to be painted.
They possessed designs bequeathed by Raffaello for its decoration, and Leo, very rightly, decided to leave it in their hands.

Sebastiano del Piombo, however, made a vigorous effort to obtain the work for himself.

His Raising of Lazarus, executed in avowed competition with the Transfiguration, had brought him into the first rank of Roman painters.

It was seen what the man, with Michelangelo to back him up, could do.

We cannot properly appreciate this picture in its present state.