Raphael - Masterpiece Curations

“Time is a vindictive bandit to steal the beauty of our former selves. We are left with sagging, rippled flesh and burning gums with empty sockets.” ~ Raphael

Raphael was a prominent artist during the High Renaissance period, creating works that were highly regarded by his contemporaries. He is best known for his paintings “The School of Athens” and “The Sistine Madonna”, as well as his frescoes in the Vatican Palace.

Raphael was born Raffaello Sanzio (pronunciation) on April 6, 1483, in Urbino, Italy. His father, Giovanni Santi, was a court painter, and his mother, Màgia Ciarla, was a homemaker. From a young age, Raphael showed an aptitude for art, and it is believed that his first artistic instruction came from his father.

In 1494, at the age of 11, Raphael’s father died, and he became apprenticed to Pietro Perugino, a well-respected artist of the time. During his apprenticeship, Raphael honed his skills in painting and drawing. He also began to develop his own style, which would later come to be known as the High Renaissance style.

In 1504, Raphael moved to Florence, where he was exposed to the works of artists such as Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo. This had a profound effect on Raphael’s work, and he began to incorporate elements of their styles into his own.

Raphael returned to Urbino in 1508, where he painted several notable works, including “The Marriage of the Virgin” and “Pope Julius II with Cardinals.” In 1511, he was commissioned by Pope Julius II to paint frescoes in the Vatican Palace. These frescoes, which depict scenes from the life of Christ, are widely regarded as some of the greatest works of art ever created.

Raphael later moved to Rome, where he continued to work on various commissions for the Pope. He also painted several portraits of high-ranking members of the Church hierarchy. Among his most famous portraits are those of Pope Leo X and cardinal Giulio de’Medici (the future Pope Clement VII).

Raphael’s final years were marked by illness. He died on April 6, 1520, at the age of 37. Despite his short life, Raphael was one of the most prolific artists of his time and is widely considered to be one of the greatest painters of all time.

Raphael’s work had a profound impact on subsequent generations of artists. His use of light and shadow, his impeccable draftsmanship, and his ability to imbue his figures with a sense of movement and grace set him apart from his contemporaries. His work would come to define the ideals of beauty in art for centuries to come.