Raffael

Raphael was considered a master even in his youth

According to the testimony of his biographer Giorgio Vasari, Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino or Raffaello Santi - better known as Raphael - was probably born on 6th April 1483 in Urbino. His father, the goldsmith and painter Giovani Santi, is said to have taught his son the basics of painting, but died in 1494. Three years before, the eight-year-old Raphael had lost his mother, and thus was an orphan by the age of eleven. In 1500, he went to Perugia and entered the workshop of Perugino where he studied old and new masters and created his first own pictures, initially following the example of his teacher Perugino. Raphael followed his style so closely that they are hard to tell apart. His demonstrated expertise led to Raphael being listed as a master (magister) at the age of 17 and given permission to paint the altarpiece Pala of Blessed Nicholas of Tolentino (Pala Baroncini) alongside Evangelista da Pian di Meleto, who had already worked for his father.

Raphael’s art reached its peak in Rome 

Raphael travelled to Florence in 1504 where a letter of recommendation opened the door to the Urbino court. Here, he was greatly influenced by Leonardo da Vinci, Fra Bartolommeo and Michelangelo, and his style changed considerably. Alongside devotional paintings and portraits, he created numerous Madonna pictures during this time which were highly valued and in great demand, and can be seen today in Florence (Uffizi), Munich (Alte Pinakothek) and Paris (Louvre), amongst others. In 1508, the still young but already successful and acclaimed artist moved to Rome, where the art-minded Pope Julius introduced him to the sculptor Michelangelo and the architect Donato Bramante. It was there that Raphael’s art reached its highest level of mastery, but he was so occupied with numerous ecclesiastical and secular commissions that he often had to content himself with working out the designs and leaving the execution to his pupils. In addition, fresco and panel painting became a new focus of his artistic work. 

The undisputed crown of the High Renaissance

Raphael also worked as an architect,t and in 1514, following the death of Bramante, was appointed director of the construction of St Peter’s Church. Beyond that, his work in this regard is preserved only in the form of sketches and designs. It was in Rome that Raphael created his most famous works: He decorated the papal chambers in the Apostolic Palace, the Stanzas, with monumental murals, including the Disputa del Sacramento and the School of Athens - celebrated as the undisputed crown of the High Renaissance – whilst ten tapestries with scenes from the Acts of the Apostles were woven for the Sistine Chapel according to Raphael’s specifications. 

Raphael died in Rome on 6 April 1520 and was buried in the Pantheon (today Santa Maria ad Martyres) in Rome. His early death at the age of 37 was subject to many rumours, even including the plague.