Priya Kapoor
Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino, better known as Raphael, was an Italian painter and architect of the High Renaissance. He is considered one of the greatest artists of all time, and his works are known for their beauty, grace, and emotional depth. Raphael was a master of many subjects, including portraits, religious paintings, and classical mythology. He was also one of the most skilled portrait painters of his time, known for his lifelike depictions of his subjects. Some of his most famous paintings include The School of Athens, The Sistine Madonna, The Triumph of Galatea, and Portrait of Baldassare Castiglione.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Mastery of | Portraiture, Religious Paintings, and Classical Mythology |
| Known for | Beauty, Grace, Emotional Depth, Technical Skill, and Lifelike Depictions |
| Popular Subjects | Madonna and Child, Portraits, The School of Athens, Mythology, and Biblical Stories |
| Notable Works | The Sistine Madonna, The Triumph of Galatea, Portrait of Baldassare Castiglione, St. George and the Dragon, La Belle Jardinière, The Wedding of the Virgin, The School of Athens, The Parnassus, The Disputa, The Mond Crucifixion, and The Transfiguration |
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What You'll Learn
Raphael's paintings of Madonna and Child
Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino, or Raphael, was a master painter of the Italian Renaissance. He was known for his refined and deeply felt paintings, with jewel-toned colours and delicate features. Raphael died young, at the age of 37, but left behind a large body of work, including many paintings of the Madonna and Child.
One of Raphael's most famous paintings of the Madonna and Child is the Sistine Madonna, which was commissioned by Pope Julius II as an altarpiece for the church of San Sisto in Piacenza. The painting depicts a cloud-borne Mary and Christ Child, flanked by Saint Sixtus and Saint Barbara. The two cherubs at the bottom of the canvas are particularly famous, one resting his chin in his hand and the other resting his head on crossed forearms, both looking bored.
Another renowned work by Raphael is the Madonna of the Chair, also known as Madonna and Child with St. John. This painting depicts a complex yet natural embrace between Mary and Jesus, with the Virgin's head curving towards the raised right leg on which the Child's back rests. The three figures are arranged in a circular shape, bound together by gestures and glances, with a play of colours that includes gold, green, red, yellow, and ultramarine blue. The painting arrived in Florence by the end of the 16th century and was placed in the Tribuna in 1589, along with two other masterpieces by Raphael: the Portrait of Leo X with Two Cardinals and the St. John the Baptist.
Raphael also painted the Madonna and Child Enthroned with Saints, which is now exhibited at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This painting shows the influence of Pinturicchio in the ornamentation of the clothing and architecture. The clothed Christ Child and the ornament on his shoulder are also found in Pinturicchio's work, and it is believed that some time passed between Raphael's initial work on the altarpiece and its completion, reflecting his discovery of the paintings of Fra Bartolomeo and Leonardo da Vinci.
Another notable work by Raphael is the Madonna and Child with Book, exhibited at the Norton Simon Museum. This painting is characterised by its serene and graceful figures, with a lucid geometry that organises the composition. The deep blue arch of the Madonna's silhouette encloses the Child and a book, which is emphasised by their touching hands. The book is open to the ninth hour, or Nones, a daily prayer recited by monastic communities that commemorates Christ's Crucifixion and Death. The Christ Child looks up to heaven, contemplating his sacrifice as mankind's Redeemer, while Mary's gaze is directed towards him, creating an unbroken circle of gestures and glances.
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The School of Athens
Raphael, the Italian Renaissance painter, is considered one of the great masters of his time, alongside Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci. He was highly influential during his lifetime and left behind a large body of work, despite his early death at the age of 37. One of his most renowned paintings is 'The School of Athens', a fresco painted between 1507 and 1512, with the usual date given as 1509 to 1511. The fresco is located in the Stanza della Segnatura, a room in Pope Julius II's private apartments in the Vatican.
'The School of Athens' is a masterpiece of Renaissance art and is considered one of Raphael's best-known works. It depicts a congregation of ancient philosophers, mathematicians, and scientists, with Plato and Aristotle featured in the centre, representing the two philosophical schools of thought. Plato points skyward, alluding to his spiritual ideas, while Aristotle gestures to the ground, emphasising his focus on worldly reality. The painting also includes portraits of Pythagoras, Heraclitus, Archimedes, Socrates, Averroes, and Zarathustra, among others. Notably, Italian artists Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo are believed to be portrayed through the characters of Plato and Heraclitus, respectively. Raphael included a self-portrait beside Ptolemy, wearing a black beret and looking directly at the viewer.
The building in the painting is in the shape of a Greek cross, suggesting a harmony between pagan philosophy and Christian theology. The architecture was inspired by the work of Bramante, who is said to have helped Raphael with the design. The fresco is also notable for its use of accurate perspective projection, a defining characteristic of Renaissance art, which Raphael learned from Leonardo da Vinci.
The painting is interpreted as an exhortation to philosophy and a visual representation of the role of love in elevating people towards higher knowledge. It is a complex allegory of secular knowledge and philosophy, showing the historical continuity of Platonic thought. 'The School of Athens' is considered a perfect embodiment of the classical spirit of the Renaissance and is one of the most significant artworks of that period.
Raphael's 'The School of Athens' is a monumental work, measuring 18 by 25 feet (5.5 by 7.7 meters). It is a fresco, not an oil painting, and it decorates one of the walls of the Stanza della Segnatura, originally a council room for the Vatican's highest judicial authority. The room's name, meaning 'signature room', refers to the signing and sealing of important documents. The Stanza della Segnatura was the first of the rooms decorated by Raphael, and 'The School of Athens' is believed to be the third painting completed there.
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The Sistine Madonna
The painting was commissioned in 1512 by Pope Julius II for the church of San Sisto in Piacenza and was probably executed between 1513 and 1514. It is one of the last Madonnas painted by Raphael and is renowned for its influence, particularly in Germany and Russia. The canvas depicts a vision of the Virgin Mary appearing to saints in the clouds, carrying the Christ Child into the world. She is flanked by Saint Sixtus and Saint Barbara and stands on clouds before dozens of obscured putti, with two distinctive winged putti resting on their elbows beneath her.
The painting has been described as "supreme among the world's paintings" and "divine". Its influence extended beyond the artistic realm, as it was said to have united or divided people in debates about art and religion. The Sistine Madonna continues to be celebrated and exhibited, with its five hundredth anniversary marked by a major exhibition in the Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden.
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The Triumph of Galatea
Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino, known simply as Raphael, was part of the Holy Trinity of the High Renaissance, along with Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo. He was an enormously prolific artist, and despite his early death at 37, a large body of work remains. One of his most famous paintings is 'The Triumph of Galatea'.
'The Triumph of Galatea' is a fresco completed around 1511-1512 by Raphael. It was commissioned by the Sienese banker Agostino Chigi, one of the richest men of that age, for the Villa Farnesina in Rome. The villa was later acquired and renamed by the Farnese family. The fresco is a mythological scene inspired by the "Stanzas on the Tournament" of the poet Angelo Poliziano. It is the only painting of Greek mythology that Raphael produced.
The painting depicts the story of the Nereid Galatea, who had fallen in love with a peasant shepherd, Acis. Her consort, the one-eyed giant Polyphemus, killed Acis by throwing a giant pillar at him after finding the couple in an embrace. However, Raphael chose not to illustrate any of the main events of the story. Instead, he celebrates Galatea riding in a shell chariot pulled by a dolphin, surrounded by an explosion of sea creatures, shells, cherubs, and colours.
The model for Galatea has been the subject of some debate. Some believe it is based on Agostino Chigi's lover, the courtesan Imperia. However, Giorgio Vasari, Raphael's near-contemporary, wrote that Raphael did not intend for Galatea to resemble any specific person but to represent ideal beauty. When asked where he found such a beautiful model, Raphael reportedly said that he had used a "certain idea" he had formed in his mind.
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Portraiture
Another of Raphael's most renowned portraits is that of Castiglione, considered one of his greatest masterpieces. The painting depicts Castiglione with a thoughtful expression, dressed in elegant clothing. Raphael's use of light and shadow creates a sense of depth and realism. The portrait was created around 1514-1515 in Paris, France, and captures the likeness and charisma of the Italian diplomat and author Baldassare Castiglione.
Raphael's portraits were known for their beauty, grace, and emotional depth, and he was a master of perspective and the use of vibrant colours. He was also renowned for his delicate and intimate depictions of the Madonna and Child, which were characterised by a sense of tenderness and maternal love.
Raphael was an Italian painter and architect of the High Renaissance, and he is considered one of the greatest artists of all time. He was a master of many subjects, including portraits, religious paintings, and classical mythology. He was extremely influential during his lifetime and had a significant impact on the art world, with his innovative techniques and style inspiring many artists who came after him.
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Frequently asked questions
Raphael, the Italian painter and architect of the High Renaissance, is known for his graceful and emotionally profound paintings. Some of his most famous paintings include:
- The Sistine Madonna (1512-13)
- The School of Athens (1508-11)
- The Transfiguration (1516-20)
- Portrait of Baldassare Castiglione (1514-15)
- The Triumph of Galatea
Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino, or Raphael, was part of the "Holy Trinity" of the High Renaissance, along with Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo. He was a master of various subjects, including portraits, religious paintings, and classical mythology.
Raphael's paintings are known for their beauty, grace, and emotional depth. They are also admired for their technical skill, harmonious compositions, and attention to detail. He was a master of perspective and used vibrant colours in his paintings.
Some of Raphael's other famous paintings include The Wedding of the Virgin, St. George and the Dragon, and various portraits of his muse, Margherita Luti, the baker's daughter.
Raphael's paintings can be found in various locations around the world, including the Vatican City, the Louvre, the Palazzo Barberini in Rome, and the Pitti Palace in Florence.
