What a cultured person needs to know about the 10 most famous paintings by Raphael

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

Rafael Santi was considered one of the greatest artists of the Renaissance, on par with such giants as Michelangelo and Leonardo Da Vinci. He skillfully gave realism to his paintings, operated with light and dark colors and several styles of painting. Today, his paintings to this day evoke awe and delight, and therefore we invite you to get acquainted with the ten most famous works of this talented Italian.

1. The betrothal of the Virgin Mary

This painting was created in 1504. Raphael was inspired by the greatest artist of the Umbrian school, whom he could call his teacher, namely - Pietro Perugino, who had created exactly the same drawing a year before. The painting depicts the process of marriage, where Joseph holds out the ring to his betrothed Mary. If you compare these two pictures, you can easily see how the student is superior to his teacher. Art critics of the world agree that Raphael's version is much deeper, more colorful, and also built on the rules of linear perspective. In his painting, Raphael challenged his contemporaries, starting to create more realistic images of people that not only stand on the same line, but also feel like a whole.

2. Saint George and the dragon

This painting was painted by Raphael in 1506, and it clearly shows the influence of creators such as Da Vinci and Bosch, which inspired the artist to create another masterpiece of military painting. So, the complex of paintings by Raphael on the theme of the battle with the dragon, where the main characters are George and Mikhail, are united by a common idea and even stylistics. On the same canvas, Raphael depicts the famous legend of how St. George defeated the dragon, and his work is considered the most famous on this topic, which combines the influence of the Umbrian and Florentine schools. At one time, she was exhibited at the Hermitage in Russia, where she caused a storm of excitement before she got into the National Art Gallery in Washington.

3. Portraits of Agnolo Doni and Maddalena Strozzi

In 1506, Raphael creates two more of his masterpieces in the genre of portraiture. Being an easy-going and very charming young man with impeccable manners, he easily enters the high society, where he meets many famous personalities, rich representatives of power and finds his patrons. At the same time, he struck up a close acquaintance with Agnolo Doni, a wealthy textile merchant who was planning a wedding to a girl named Maddalena Strozzi, and in honor of this he decided to order a double portrait from Raphael. Such a generous offer prompted the artist to approach these portraits with special care. So, at first glance, it seems that they depict the most ordinary people who are dressed in simple clothes. However, it is this simplicity that forces us to notice the details: the softness and at the same time the severity of Doni's expression, as well as the power and sensitivity of the young bride Maddalena, which is very accurately conveyed through small details in the form of jewelry.

4. Saint Catherine of Alexandria

In 1508, Raphael paints this picture, probably before his departure to Rome. It is believed that it was created not for the exhibition, but for the personal use of the artist himself. On this canvas, one can see not so much the influence of his teacher Perugino as the inheritance of Da Vinci's technique. This is especially noticeable in the pose that Catherine takes, as well as in the smooth curves of her body. This allowed Raphael to convey movement and grace, even though the girl froze motionless. Also, the artist deliberately depicted her looking into the sky, where golden rays appear through the clouds. Art critics call this picture an ideal display of martyrdom, since Catherine herself rests on a wheel with sharp edges, but her face is turned to God. Today the painting is exhibited at the National Gallery in London.

5. School of Athens

During 1508-1510, Raphael was engaged in the creation of his greatest creations - Stanz (frescoes). So, in 1508, he arrives in Rome at the special invitation of Pope Julius II, which, having heard about the immense talent of the young artist, offers him cooperation. So, Raphael is instructed to paint one of the frescoes in the Pope's room. The talented artist coped with his work so masterly that Julius II, impressed by this, drove away the rest of the creators, including the teacher Raphael, instructing him to study the stanzas on his own. The most famous fresco of this period is the "School of Athens", which is located in the collection of books on philosophy. She is a collective image of all great minds, philosophers and sages on one canvas, where you can find Plato and Archimedes, Socrates, Pythagoras, Heraclitus and other outstanding personalities. And if you take a closer look, you can see Raphael, Da Vinci and even Michelangelo on the fresco.

6. Dispute

This fresco, created in 1510, is considered the most iconic work of Renaissance art in all of Rome. So, the frescoes of Raphael, which he writes for the Apostolic Palace, are in no way inferior to the creations of Michelangelo for the Sistine Chapel. She was painted in the so-called "Signature Room" and is included in the list of stations created by Raphael. In the upper area, the sky is depicted, where you can see the main religious figures - Christ, the Virgin Mary, as well as Moses and even Adam. Slightly below, in the central part of the fresco, are depicted bishops and other holy people, priests, as well as ordinary believers who are engaged in a dispute on some topic. And if you look closely, then on the right you can see Dante Alighieri himself.

7. Sistine Madonna

This painting, painted between 1513 and 1514, is considered the pinnacle of Raphael's work. She depicts the Virgin Mary, who descends to the people, holding the baby Jesus in her arms. Her face expresses both tenderness and a bit of anxiety. Next to her is Saint Sixtus, as well as Saint Barbara, who bowed in a respectful and slightly humble gesture. In addition, two cherubs can be seen at the bottom of the painting, which are considered the most famous angelic characters in the entire history of painting. The humility of the other characters in the picture, as well as the heavy curtain on top, is an excellent artistic technique that Raphael used to draw the audience's attention to Madonna. It is interesting that in Germany this painting is recognized as truly divine and is considered the most incredible in the history of art.

8. Donna Velata

In 1515, at the very peak of his creativity, Raphael paints a portrait, which is also known as "The Lady with the Veil." On it, he portrayed Margarita Luti - the baker's daughter, with whom, according to legend, he was passionately in love. And he threw out this love in his work, depicting it in the most delicate, airy and light colors that can only be found. Soon Raphael and Margarita were married, and he began to call his beloved "fornarina", which means "bun". In the portrait, she is depicted with her head covered, which means a married woman. Her posture and face convey calmness, grace and grace, and her gentle, peachy face and deep eyes literally shine with happiness. And special attention to garments makes it possible to feel the maximum realism of this canvas.

9. Portrait of Baldassare Castiglione

In the period from 1514-1515, Raphael is engaged in painting a portrait of his friend - the patron of the Castiglione. Baldassare was a famous philosopher, poet and even diplomat, he was considered the most educated person of his time. However, he was also known as a gentle person, which the artist managed to convey using neat, smooth lines and colors. Raphael dresses Castiglione in modest, simple clothes, and also paints a man's face touched by old age and maturity, which expresses calmness and confidence. As art critics would later note, this portrait became a collective image of what portrait painting was supposed to look like during the Renaissance, and it also inspired great artists such as Matisse, Rembrandt and Titian.

10. Transformation

This painting, created in the years 1516-1520, is considered the last that came out of the pen of Raphael. It was created specifically for the Narbonne Cathedral by order of Cardinal Giulio Medici. However, Raphael could not complete this work, having suddenly died from an unknown illness, and Giulio Romano took up the brush and its continuation. The painting depicts a religious moment when Jesus decides to reveal his true nature to his disciples. The canvas is divided into two main parts: above, in the divine light, Christ himself is depicted, and below his disciples unsuccessfully try to expel the Devil from the little boy. The contrast between light and darkness probably implies a separation between the divine and the human. And, which is typical, the upper part was written by Raphael himself, and the lower one by Romano, which is very striking.

Read also about what this person became famous for.