Raphael (1483-1520)

### Education

Grew up in an environment rich in the arts and humanist learning. It is believed that he first studied painting with his father. Raphael's education is not well documented, but it is known that he was highly skilled in painting and drawing from a young age.

### Occupation

Painter and architect of the Italian High Renaissance

### Family

Father: Giovanni Santi
Mother: Magia

Siblings: two siblings, but they both died in infancy

### Hair Color

Some scholars have suggested that he may have had long blond hair, based on a portrait of a young man with smooth, pale peachy skin and long blond hair that was thought to be a self-portrait of Raphael.

### Eye Color

Artsy.net describes his self-portrait as having “searching brown eyes”

### Best Known For

His paintings, which are considered to be some of the greatest works of art in history.

## About

Raphael, also known as Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino, was an Italian painter and architect of the High Renaissance. He was born on either March 28 or April 6, 1483, in Urbino, Italy. Raphael is best known for his Madonna's and for his large figure compositions. He displayed an extraordinary talent from a young age and was commissioned to help paint an altarpiece in Perugia by the age of 172. Between 1501 and 1503, he received a rather important commission to paint the Coronation of the Virgin for the Oddi Chapel in the church of San Francesco in Perugia. Raphael was enormously productive, running an unusually large workshop and leaving a large body of work despite his early death at the age of 37. 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 (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. He was buried in the Pantheon in Rome at his request. Vasari, in his biography of Raphael, says that Raphael was also born on a Good Friday, which in 1483 fell on March 28. This would mean that while Raphael was born and died on Good Friday, he was actually older than 37 on the 1520 Good Friday, which fell on April 6.

## Early Life and Education

Raphael (1483-1520) was born in Urbino, Italy, and was the son of a painter at the court of Urbino. His father was his first teacher, and Raphael absorbed much of his teaching. Raphael's early life is not well documented, and there are no surviving portraits of him. He was a nomadic artist, working in various centres in Northern Italy, including Florence, where he spent a good deal of time. Although there is a traditional reference to a “Florentine period” of about 1504-8, he was certainly never a continuous resident there. Raphael was already much in demand even at this early stage in his career.

## Career

Raphael's career can be divided into three phases and styles, as described by Giorgio Vasari. His early years were spent in Umbria, followed by a period of about four years in Florence, where he became a noted portraitist and painter of Madonna's. In 1508, at the age of 25, he was called to the court of Pope Julius II to help with the redecoration of the papal apartments in Rome. In Rome, he evolved as a portraitist and became one of the most sought-after artists of his time. Raphael was highly productive, running an unusually large workshop and leaving behind a large body of work despite his early death at the age of 37.

## Personal life

Raphael (1483-1520) was known to have led a “nomadic” life, working in various centres in Northern Italy, but spent a good deal of time in Florence, perhaps from about 1504. He was much in demand even at an early stage in his career. Raphael mixed easily in the highest circles throughout his life, one of the factors that tended to give a misleading impression of effortlessness to his career. He did not receive a full humanistic education, however, he was known to have been in Rome during his period there. Raphael was enormously productive, running an unusually large workshop and, despite his early death at 37, leaving a large body of work.

## Relationships

Raphael (1483-1520) was engaged to Maria Bibbiena, the niece of a powerful cardinal, but he never married her. There is speculation that he was considering becoming a cardinal himself. Raphael's love life is not well documented, but it is believed that he had a mistress whose identity is unknown. Raphael was known to have a close relationship with his parents.

## Filmography

There is a documentary titled “Exhibition on Screen: Raphael Revealed” (2020) that explores the art of the Italian Renaissance and the life of Raphael. Additionally, “Raphael Revealed” (2021) is a 500th-anniversary survey of Raphael's work. There are also several books and monographs available that discuss Raphael's life and work, including “Raphael: 1520-1483” and “Raphael: The Complete Works”.

## Awards and legacy

Raphael (1483-1520) is considered one of the greatest painters of all time and a leading figure of Italian High Renaissance classicism. His example as a paragon of classicism dominated the academic tradition of European painting until the mid-19th century. Raphael's career falls naturally into three phases and three styles, first described by Giorgio Vasari. He was highly productive, running an unusually large workshop and leaving behind a large body of work despite his early death at the age of 37. Some of his notable works include the Sistine Madonna and the School of Athens. Raphael's paintings made his images iconic and his name a legend.

## See also

For more information on Raphael (1483-1520), one can visit the National Gallery in London. The gallery has a collection of Raphael's works, including the famous painting, The Madonna of the Pinks. The gallery also has a collection of Raphael's drawings, which are considered to be some of the finest examples of Renaissance art. Additionally, the gallery has a collection of works by Raphael's contemporaries, including Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo. The gallery is open daily and admission is free.