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Raphael: 1520–1483
The High Renaissance master revisited in a gorgeous and authoritative new monograph A New York Times critics' pick | Best Art Books 2020
On the 500th anniversary of Raphael’s death, the Uffizi in Florence has assembled one of the world’s most ambitious exhibitions to honor the High Renaissance painter and his lasting legacy. This publication follows the trajectory of Raphael’s life and career in reverse, beginning with his early death in 1520 before highlighting his formative years between Urbino, Città di Castello, Perugia and Siena. During his relatively brief lifetime, Raphael produced masterful works with an astonishing prolificacy. In his frescoes commissioned by Pope Julius II, Raphael demonstrates an unparalleled mastery of composition and perspective, embodying the Renaissance’s spirit of idealized beauty. These frescoes, which include The School of Athens , are among the hundreds of pieces reproduced in this extensive monograph, which also features writing and research by Italy’s leading curators and art historians.
Born Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino at the onset of the Italian Renaissance, painter and architect Raphael (1483-1520) became one of the era’s―and subsequently one of history’s―most admired artists. The son of a court painter, Raphael began his career early in his hometown of Urbino and quickly became known throughout Italy for his portraiture and religious paintings. In 1508, the Pope tasked him with the redecoration of the papal apartments. He then remained in Rome for many years, continuing with his painting until he was appointed head architect of St. Peter’s Basilica in 1518. He died on what may have been his 37th birthday in Rome.
On the 500th anniversary of Raphael’s death, the Uffizi in Florence has assembled one of the world’s most ambitious exhibitions to honor the High Renaissance painter and his lasting legacy. This publication follows the trajectory of Raphael’s life and career in reverse, beginning with his early death in 1520 before highlighting his formative years between Urbino, Città di Castello, Perugia and Siena. During his relatively brief lifetime, Raphael produced masterful works with an astonishing prolificacy. In his frescoes commissioned by Pope Julius II, Raphael demonstrates an unparalleled mastery of composition and perspective, embodying the Renaissance’s spirit of idealized beauty. These frescoes, which include The School of Athens , are among the hundreds of pieces reproduced in this extensive monograph, which also features writing and research by Italy’s leading curators and art historians.
Born Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino at the onset of the Italian Renaissance, painter and architect Raphael (1483-1520) became one of the era’s―and subsequently one of history’s―most admired artists. The son of a court painter, Raphael began his career early in his hometown of Urbino and quickly became known throughout Italy for his portraiture and religious paintings. In 1508, the Pope tasked him with the redecoration of the papal apartments. He then remained in Rome for many years, continuing with his painting until he was appointed head architect of St. Peter’s Basilica in 1518. He died on what may have been his 37th birthday in Rome.
- GenresArt
543 pages, Hardcover
Published February 23, 2021
15 people want to read
About the author
Raphael
874 books2 followersRaphael Sanzio, usually known by his first name alone (in Italian Raffaello (April 6 or March 28, 1483 – April 6, 1520) was an Italian painter and architect of the High Renaissance, celebrated for the perfection and grace of his paintings and drawings. Together with Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci he forms the traditional trinity of great masters of that period.
Raphael was enormously productive and, despite his early death at thirty-seven, a large body of his work remains, especially in the Vatican. He was extremely influential in his lifetime, but after his death the influence of his great rival Michelangelo was more widespread until the 18th and 19th centuries, when his more serene and harmonious qualities were again regarded as the highest models.
His career falls naturally into three phases and three styles, first described by Giorgio Vasari: his early years in Umbria, then a period of about four years (from 1504-1508) absorbing the artistic traditions of Florence, followed by his last hectic and triumphant twelve years in Rome, working for two Popes and their close associates.
Raphael was enormously productive and, despite his early death at thirty-seven, a large body of his work remains, especially in the Vatican. He was extremely influential in his lifetime, but after his death the influence of his great rival Michelangelo was more widespread until the 18th and 19th centuries, when his more serene and harmonious qualities were again regarded as the highest models.
His career falls naturally into three phases and three styles, first described by Giorgio Vasari: his early years in Umbria, then a period of about four years (from 1504-1508) absorbing the artistic traditions of Florence, followed by his last hectic and triumphant twelve years in Rome, working for two Popes and their close associates.
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December 19, 2020
The 2020 exposition was to mark the 500 year anniversary of the death of Raphael (as last year's DaVinci expo did at the Louvre) at the Quirinale in Rome. However, due to COVID, this was obviously canceled. However, I went through the effort of finding the catalog from the publisher and was not disappointed. The authors take the original approach of going backwards through his life rather than forwards. He is the consummate artist in painting, drawing, fresco...and such a different personality than his two contemporaries and rivals: Michelangelo and DaVinci. If you can get it (and I don't think any English catalogs are available anymore), definitely a reference for the great genius from Urbino.
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