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Raphael, the last
of the three greatest painters of the Renaissance, was born
Raffaello Sanzio in Urbino, in the province of Umbria. It
is probable that he took his first lessons from his father, a provincial
painter named Giovanni di Santi, before going to Florence, where by
1500 he was working in the studio of Perugino, an artist well known
for his serene and beautifully colored works. |
Under the influence of
Michelangelo Buonarroti
and Leonardo da Vinci, both of whom were in Florence during this time,
Raphael, whose early work already surpassed his master's, soon lost
any provincial tendencies as he began to adopt Michelangelo's vigorous
energy and Leonardo's sfumato and spiritualism. Raphael's work became
luminous in atmosphere, rich and clear in color, harmonious in movement,
sculpturally three-dimensional, and perfectly balanced in composition.
Throughout his short life his abilities as a consummate artist never
ceased to show growth of vision and intelligence. He went to Rome
in 1508, where his many talents and his gentle personality brought
him friends, honor, and success. Before he died, he had painted the
monumental and idealistic frescoes for Pope Julius II's private rooms
in the Vatican, worked as an architect on the plans for St. Peter's
, drawn cartoons for tapestries for the Sistine Chapel, and been appointed
superintendent of the excavation of ancient Rome. He had also painted
classical frescoes for private villas, religious works, and many brilliant,
realistic portraits. The center of a group of artists and intellectuals,
Raphael lived an active life. Despite the fact that he had a large
studio with many assistants and students, the numerous architectural
and painting commissions he received caused him to overwork. He died
at the age of thirty-seven, leaving behind an unfinished Transfiguration,
indicative in its unusual composition of a further artistic maturation
which was all too abruptly terminated.
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