Raphael

Escola de atenas - vaticano

Raphael - Cardinal and Theological Virtues

Giovanni Santi - Christ supported by two angels

Raffaello Sanzio - Guidobaldo da Montefeltro - WGA18653

Rafael - ressureicaocristo01

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Raphael (Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino, April 6 or March 28, 1483 – April 6, 1520) was an Italian painter and architect of the High Renaissance. His work is admired for its clarity of form, ease of composition, and visual achievement of the Neoplatonic ideal of human grandeur. Along with Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci, he forms the traditional trinity of great masters of that period.

Biography

Raphael was born in the small but artistically significant Central Italian city of Urbino in the Marche region, where his father Giovanni Santi was court painter to the Duke. The environment of the Urbino court was conducive to the arts, and it was here that Raphael's interest in painting was nurtured. Orphaned at age eleven, Raphael's early training was overseen by his father's workshop; he developed a style influenced by the works of Perugino, who was possibly his teacher.

In 1504, Raphael moved to Florence, where he studied the works of the most accomplished Florentine artists of the time, including Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Fra Bartolommeo. His Florentine period was marked by the creation of numerous Madonnas, which were characterized by a unique tenderness and human emotion.

By 1508, Raphael had been summoned to Rome by Pope Julius II and was commissioned to decorate the Pope's private library at the Vatican Palace. This work, including the famous School of Athens, is considered his greatest achievement. In Rome, Raphael's style continued to evolve, influenced by Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel ceiling and the ancient ruins of the city. He became the most important architect in Rome after being appointed the architect of the new St. Peter's Basilica in 1514.

Raphael's work was known for its clarity of form and ability to convey grandeur within a visual harmony. His depictions of the Madonna and Child, the Holy Family, and the saints are notable for their naturalism and human warmth. He was also a significant portraitist, with works such as the portrait of Baldassare Castiglione and La Fornarina showcasing his skill in capturing human personality and emotion.

Legacy

Raphael died on April 6, 1520, his 37th birthday, in Rome and was buried in the Pantheon. His death was considered a great loss to the art world. His influence on the development of art in the Western world is profound, having left a legacy that was admired and studied by generations of artists. His approach to composition and his techniques have been particularly influential, with his use of space and light inspiring both his contemporaries and later artists.

Raphael's work is seen as embodying the ideals of the High Renaissance, and he is considered one of the greatest and most popular artists of all time. His paintings and frescoes are found in many of the world's leading art museums.

See Also

• Renaissance art
• Italian Renaissance
• Vatican Museums
• Raphael Rooms
• Renaissance humanism