Raphael

Born: 1483, Urbino, Italy
Died: April 6, 1520, Rome, Italy
Full name: Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino
Periods: Italian Renaissance, High Renaissance, Renaissance

Raphael

Raphael was a famous Italian High Renaissance painter, architect, and sculptor. Raphael was born on April 6, 1483, in Urbino, Italy. During that period Urbino was a central place for Arts and culture. Father of this painter, Giovanni Santi was a painter for the Duke of Urbino. Raphael learned basic knowledge or painting from his father.

At the age of 11, in 1494, Raphael‘s father died. Then Raphael continued his father’s workshop. During his teen ages, Raphael was considered one of the finest painters of Urbino. In 1500, Raphael apprenticed 4 years with the master painter named Pietro Vannunci (known as Perugino) with the frescoes at the Collegio del Cambia. At that time Raphael had his own unique style. In 1504 Raphael moved to Florence. Then he was introduced and much influenced by the works of the legendary Italian painters Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Fra Bartolommeo and Masaccio. Raphael then began working for the series of “Madonnas”(1504-1507). In 1507 he painted La Belle Jardine. In that very year, he produced his most famous and creative work in Florence, The Entombment. He moved to Rome in 1508 and created Vatican “Stanze”. From 1509-1511, he worked for one of the most creative Italian High Renaissance frescos (The Triumph of Religion and The School of Athens) in the Vatican’s Stanza. During this time Raphael completed his series of “Madonna” paintings. In 1514, after the death of Donato Bramante, the pope selected Raphael for the post of the head architect. Then Raphael designed Eligio degli Orefici, Santa Maria del Popolo and some area of Saint Peter’s new basilica.

On April 6, 1520, this famous artist died on his 37th birthday. His death was so mysterious. Raphael was working on his last and the largest canvas The Transfiguration during his death.

Some Important Work of Raphael:

1. Mond Crucifixion (1502-1503)

Mond Crucifixion

Coronation of the Virgin

3. Ansidei Madonna(1505)

Ansidei Madonna

4. The Parnassus (1511)

The Parnassus

5. Transfiguration (1520)

Transfiguration