How did Raphael use light in The Liberation of St. Peter?

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Raphael: The Grand Duke's Madonna — Raphael *The Grand Duke's Madonna*, oil painting by Raphael, 1505; in the Pitti Palace, Florence.

In his fresco The Liberation of St. Peter, located in the Stanza d’Eliodoro of the Vatican, Raphael demonstrates a sophisticated and bold approach to lighting. As a night scene, the work is notable for incorporating three distinct and simultaneous lighting effects:

Moonlight: Provides a naturalistic ambient illumination for the scene.
Torchlight: Emanates from a soldier, adding a localized, realistic source of light.
Supernatural light: Radiates from the angel, serving as a divine and dramatic focal point.1

These varied effects highlight Raphael’s growing interest in dramatic subjects and his mastery of light and shade during his Roman period.12