The Expulsion of Heliodorus from the Temple

painting by Raphael

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June 26, 2026

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"The Expulsion of Heliodorus from the Temple" is a fresco by the Italian Renaissance artist Raphael, painted between 1511 and 1512. It is located in the Stanza d'Eliodoro in the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican. The painting depicts a scene from the Second Book of Maccabees, where Heliodorus is divinely punished for attempting to plunder the Temple in Jerusalem. Raphael's work is known for its dramatic intensity and innovative use of light and shadow, showcasing a departure from the serene style of his earlier works. This fresco is part of a larger cycle of paintings in the Vatican apartments that illustrate specific miraculous events in the history of the Christian church.1

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Julius II
Patron of the arts
The Expulsion of Heliodorus from the Temple symbolizes the expulsion of the French and the subjugation of all the church’s enemies, with Julius II depicted witnessing the scene from his portable throne. Closely related to this is the Liberation of St. Peter, in which light…
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The Expulsion of Heliodorus from the Temple symbolizes the expulsion of the French and the subjugation of all the church’s enemies, with Julius II depicted witnessing the scene from his portable throne. Closely related to this is the Liberation of St. Peter, in which light…
Read More