File talk:Giannfrancesco Penni - Baptism of Constantine.jpg
Giannfrancesco Penni's [sic] "Baptism of Constantine" fresco is a puzzler. Constantine the Great (27 February c. 272[1] – 22 May 337) was first Christian emperor and a significant figure in the history of Christianity. But, this picture shows Francis I baptized by Clement VII with Charles V, Francis I and Constable Bourbon in the farthest back ground as witnesses. Raphael herself holds his sword and Julius II and Clement VII flank the picture left and right respectively.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constable_Bourbon
The rest of this picture is obvious. St. Peter leads in the candidates. Ippolito and Bona hold the candlesticks, the moon goddess Selene stands atop Marian columns and Clement has eyes for the ladies.
"Pope Clement VII (Latin: Clemens VII; 26 May 1478 – 25 September 1534), born Giulio di Giuliano de' Medici, was the head of the Catholic Church from 19 November 1523 to his death in 1534.[1]" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clement_VII
But, an unknown artist of uncertain fresco abilities could not have painted this masterpiece and Raphael was theoretically dead when Clement was pope in 1523.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gianfrancesco_Penni
Cybrarian's note, Suffice to say here, The Italian wars of the sixteenth century began when Ippolito's uncle Ludovico Maria Sforza (also known as Ludovico il Moro) usurped her father's throne with the help of the French king Charles VIII and the one who knows that story is the Master Herself. (Not dead circa 1523.) This painting speaks for itself.
