Vatican Museum (Classical and Hellinistic sculpture, Raphael's paintings)

Pope Julius was a very important person within the subject of Art History. He was known as the "Warrior Pope" because when battles were fought he was always at the front of the fray. From these battles he received spoils of war, art. Exploring the Vatican Museum we came across many sculptures of classical and hellinistic views. You would know if it was a Roman copy if there was something called a tree trunk in the back which would stabilize the statue and keep it from breaking.

Apollo Killing a Snake personifies this ideal of classical beauty.

Another famous statue that was present was Laocoon which dates from the first century AD and depicts the Trojan priest Laocoon and his sons struggling with serpents.

It is a moving sculpture because you can see the worry and sorrow Laocoon feels for putting his sons into mortal danger.

Raphael's rooms were a treat to see since I greatly admire his work. Looking at the School of Athens you can see a figure crouching all alone and this was said to not be in the original sketch Raphael made for his work. It was said that Raphael added Michelangelo later after Raphael saw the Sistine Chapel.

This piece is also very humanistic showing an ode to the sciences and the wonders that men create. This was only one of the works in four different rooms called the Hall of Constantine.

• The Vatican museums was originally papal palaces built for Renaissance popes such as Sixtus IV, Innocent VIII, and Julius II.