Raphael
Raphael, or Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino, was an Italian painter and architect who lived from 1483 to 1520. Along with Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael is seen as one of the great artists of the Italian High Renaissance masters. His work is known for its balanced composition, graceful style, and brighter colors. His style was universally popular, among critics and the public alike.
Raphael was born in the city of Urbino, Italy. His father, Giovanni Santi, was a well-respected artist, and served as the court painter to Duke Federico da Montefeltro. Raphael was raised within court life. He was exposed to high cultural values, had the proper court manners, and was much respected. Montefeltro was attempting to make Urbino a great center for the arts, such as the Medici family did with Florence.
His early artistic training was in the workshop of his father. After his father’s death in 1494, Raphael moved to Perugia to study under Umbrian master Pietro Perugino. By 1501, he was fully trained and declared a master. Immediately, Raphael received commissions for many local towns for altarpieces and other works. He spent a lot of time traveling around to different jobs, absorbing the local styles and techniques as he did so. By 1504, Raphael had made his way to Florence, where he was drawn by the notoriety of the talents of Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo. He remained in the city, learning and being influenced by the masters around him. He developed his composition, perspective, and the sfumato and chiaroscuro techniques of da Vinci.
In 1508, Raphael was summoned to Rome by Pope Julis II. In Rome, Raphael met Michelangelo who greatly disliked him. The young Raphael was handsome, fashionable, well-versed in court life, and popular, the antithesis to Michelangelo’s prickly personality. Once Raphael started receiving commissions from the Pope, his reputation flourished. His commissions went beyond religion in nature. His portraits were highly sought after. Raphael’s work is seen as embodying all the ideals of the High Renaissance; his work was balanced, graceful, majestic, and dignified. For many centuries, Raphael was considered the greatest artist of the Renaissance as he was more versatile than Michelangelo and created many more works than Leonardo.
Raphael died in Rome on April 6, 1520, which was his 37th birthday. It was believed that he contracted a sickness after a passionate night with his mistress, Margherita Luti, in which he suffered from a high fever. Embarrassed to explain to his doctor how he fell ill, he was prescribed the wrong cure and died fifteen days later. Their love was immortalized in a painting by Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres.
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