In what country was Rafael Santi born? Raffaello Santi

And Leonardo da Vinci. He was a master of photorealistic depictions of emotion in great detail, bringing life to his paintings. Raphael is considered a perfectly “balanced” artist, and many of his paintings are rightfully recognized as the cornerstones of Renaissance art. Here are 10 of the most famous paintings by this great Italian artist.

Raphael. 10 iconic works.

Year of creation: 1504

Based on a painting of the same theme by Pietro Perugino, The Betrothal of the Virgin Mary depicts the heroine's marriage to Joseph. There is an evolution of Raphael's style, which is superior to Perugino. The temple in the background is drawn with such obvious care that it is surprising to imagine the difficulties the author had to go through at the time of writing.

Year of creation: 1506

The painting, depicting the famous legend of St. George slaying the dragon, is perhaps the most iconic of all works on this subject. It was one of the most popular exhibits in the Hermitage until it found its way into the National Gallery of Art (Washington), where it remains one of the most popular works to this day.

Year of creation: 1515

The famous portrait of Donna Velata highlights the artist's amazing ability to paint with such exquisite perfection that the figure appears to be looking at the viewer, blurring the lines of reality. The woman's clothing once again shows Raphael's attention to detail, which fills the painting with even greater realism. All that is known about the main character of the film is that she was the author’s mistress.

Year of creation: 1510

Along with the frescoes of the Sistine Chapel, Raphael's frescoes in the Apostolic Palace are the quintessence of the High Renaissance in Rome. One of the four great works (also the School of Athens, Parnassus and Law) is a discourse on the sacrament. The painting of the church spans heaven and earth and is rightfully considered one of Raphael's most famous frescoes.

Parnassus. Raphael

Year of creation: 1515

One of the most significant portraits of the Renaissance depicts the artist's friend, diplomat and humanist Castiglione, who is considered a typical example of the nobility of the period. The painting influenced such famous artists as Titian, Matisse and Rembrandt.

Year of creation: 1514

In Greek mythology, the beautiful Neriad (ocean spirit) Garatea is the daughter of Poseidon. She had the misfortune of being married to the jealous one-eyed giant Polyphemus, who kills Akidas, son of Pan, after learning that his wife wanted to cheat on him. Instead of depicting this story, Raphael paints the apotheosis of Galatea. This work, perhaps, has no analogues in the skill of conveying the classical spirit of antiquity.

Year of creation: 1507

The artist's popularity at that time was not associated with his main works, but was built on the basis of numerous small paintings. They are still popular today, and one of the most famous such works is La Belle Gardener (Madonna in the Beautiful Garden). The painting shows a calm interaction between the Madonna in an informal pose with the young Christ and the young John the Baptist. This is a typical example of Raphael's painting.

Year of creation: 1520

The Transfiguration is the last painting that Raphael created. It is divided into two logical parts. The upper half depicts Christ and the prophets Elijah and Moses on either side of him. In the lower fragment, the apostles unsuccessfully try to cure a boy of demonic possession. The painting can be interpreted as depicting the contrast between God and man, with purity and symmetry above and chaos and darkness below.

Year of creation: 1512

Raphael's masterpiece, as mentioned above, is one of four frescoes in the Apostolic Palace (Vatican). Critics and art historians believe that among the 21 single figures one can find all the significant philosophers of Greece. The embodiment of the spirit of the Renaissance - this is most likely Santi's most famous painting.

10 iconic works of Raphael updated: October 2, 2017 by: Gleb

Italy gave the world a huge number of great artists, architects, and graphic artists. Among them, Rafael Santi shines brightly. An architect and artist well known to the modern world, he left a rich legacy that surprises and delights true art connoisseurs.

Biography

Various sources claim that Raphael was born on March 26 or 28, 1483. According to others, April 6 is the artist’s birthday and death. Who to believe? Decide for yourself. Only the city where Rafael Santi was born is known: Urbino.

Childhood was darkened by the death of Margie Charla, the mother of the future artist. The father, Giovanni Santi, had to leave for his wife in 1894.

The first years of Rafael Santi's life left bright strokes on the boy's consciousness and his preferences. The reason for this impact of the surrounding world was the birth into the family of a court artist who worked under the Duke of Urbino. Here the young artist managed to take his first creative steps. The earliest work of the master of painting is considered to be the fresco “Madonna and Child,” which was kept in the house-museum for many years.

There are few results left from creative research and independent search for a path. Among the first were works by Raphael Santi for the church of Sant'Agostino, located in Città di Castello:

• "Glantern with the image of the Holy Trinity" (circa 1499-1500)
• image for the altar “Coronation of St. Nicholas of Tolentino" (1500-1501)

1501 The young artist decides to continue his studies with Pietro Perugino, who lived and worked in Perugia. The influence of the master made adjustments to the work of Raphael Santi.

This period of Santi is filled with visits to Urbino, Città di Castello, and accompanying the teacher to Siena.

1504 There was an acquaintance with Baldassar Castiglione, which was followed by a move to Florence, where Raphael Santi lived for several years. Having met Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, and other great Italian artists of this period, Santi gets acquainted with the techniques of recognized geniuses, learns, absorbing knowledge and skills like a sponge. The young artist’s thoughts were absorbed in his studies and work on new paintings.

Rafael Santi's drawings were not completely absorbing. Architecture became my second passion. The artist learned a lot from his mentors, who happily shared their experience and knowledge. Rafael Santi's achievements surprised them.

Later he was introduced to Bramante. Gradually acquiring acquaintances with outstanding people, the artist-architect improves his technique, and his popularity gradually grows.

Eleven months later, Santi decides to change his situation and moves to Rome. With the help of Bramante, the young creator manages to take the place of the official artist of the Pope's palace.

Italian artists did not stop at one type of art. Perhaps it was they who translated the postulate into reality: truly talented people will show off their talents in various fields. Raphael spent a lot of time engaged in poetic research, creating sonnets dedicated to his lovers.

Rafael Santi's biography includes marriage. At 31, the famous artist fell in love with the daughter of a baker, so he proposed marriage. The girl agreed, becoming a faithful wife until the artist’s death.

According to researchers, Raphael was interested in the architecture of the past. While excavating in Rome, the architect-researcher contracted a special type of Roman fever, which caused his death on April 6, 1520. The disease took away the 37-year-old genius, who during his short existence managed to leave a deep mark in various fields of art. Raphael's tomb was decorated with the epitaph:

“Here lies the great Raphael, during his life nature was afraid of being defeated, and after his death she was afraid to die.”

Creation

The master created his first works to order for churches in 1499-1501. Peruge actually inspired the young artist to write on religious themes, creating altar paintings and small canvases. But most of all, Rafael Santi was inspired by the image of Madonna.

Paintings with Madonna are the main line of the artist’s work. They are presented at all stages of existence, revealing to the viewer the soul of the creator. All works, despite the unity of the plot, are individual.

By his twenty-second birthday, the artist Rafael Santi becomes popular. The young artist is approached to create images of saints, such as “St. Catherine of Alexandria" and others.

Rafael Santi: the most famous paintings

“Sistine Madonna”, combining the unity of the mortal body, the Holy Spirit, birth, atonement of sins.

Raphael Santi - Sistine Madonna

"Three Graces". Depicts Love, Beauty and Innocence holding the apples of the Hesperides, embodying beauty with the ability to save the world.

“Madonna Conestabile” is an image filled with tenderness, pure spirituality, lyricism, harmony, and love.

“The School of Athens” is a canvas that brings together the images of famous philosophers and teachers of Greek culture. The artist amazed his contemporaries and descendants with his painting.

"Self-portrait". This is how Raphael saw himself (1506).

“The Lady with the Unicorn” glorifies the beauty and miracle of the purity of spirit and body.

"Transfiguration". The last masterpiece, an unfinished canvas, begun by the master shortly before his death. This painting stood at the head of the genius at the funeral.

"Beautiful gardener." A charming image of the Madonna taking care of the world, like a good gardener takes care of an orchard.

"Donna Velata" A tender image of a wife who lived with Raphael until death and went to a monastery to remain faithful to her husband.

“Madonna in an Armchair”, personifying beauty, purity of soul, and the joy of motherhood.

"Madonna with the Veil." A gentle, peaceful image that points to family values, which are the main treasures given to people by the Creator.

“The Knight’s Dream” is an image that embodies the eternal choice between pleasure and virtue.

“Madonna Alba”, which has long belonged to the Spanish family of the same name and embodies the unity of soul, body and Spirit, knowledge of the future path, and readiness to follow it.

Raphael (actually Raphael Santi), one of the greatest painters of modern times, was born on April 6, 1483 in Urbino. He received his first artistic education from his father, the painter Giovanni Santi, and after his death in 1494 he continued with the Umbrian painter P. Perugino. The first paintings of Raphael date back to the time of his stay with Perugino. All of them have the general character of the tender and deep religious dreaminess of the Umbrian school. But already in “The Betrothal of the Virgin Mary” (Sposalizio), written at the end of this period, the features of Raphael’s beginning to take shape shine through this character.

Raphael. Betrothal of the Virgin Mary. 1504

Florentine period of Raphael's work

With the arrival of Raphael from quiet Umbria to Florence, in 1504, the second period of his artistic activity begins. The works of Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci and Fra Bartolomeo, Florence itself - the center of everything elegant and beautiful - all this had a strong influence on the artistic development of Raphael. Surprising at the strength of Michelangelo, he, however, sided with Leonardo da Vinci and Fra Bartolomeo and devoted himself zealously to the study of old Florentines. The subtle feeling and faithful transmission of emotional movements, the charm of figures and play of tones that distinguish the paintings of Leonardo da Vinci, the reverent expression and skillful arrangement of groups, the knowledge and depth of impression that is inherent in Fra Bartolomeo, were reflected in the works of Raphael of this period, but did not deprive them of clear already emerging individuality. Often submitting to other people's influences, Raphael always took only what was related and useful to him, being able to maintain a sense of proportion.

Raphael. Three Graces. 1504-1505

The Florentine period of Raphael’s work begins with the allegorical paintings “The Three Graces” and “The Knight’s Dream”.

Raphael. Allegory (A Knight's Dream). OK. 1504

The famous panels on the theme of the battles of St. Michael and St. George with the dragon, the paintings “Christ Blessing” and “St. Catherine of Alexandria” also date back to this time.

Raphael. Saint Catherine of Alexandria. 1508

Madonnas by Raphael

But in general, the time Raphael spent in Florence is the era of Madonnas par excellence: “Madonna of the Goldfinch”, “Madonna of the House of Tempi”, “Madonna of the House of Colonna”, “Madonna del Baldachino”, “Madonna of Granduca”, “Madonna of Canigiani”, “ Madonna Terranuova”, “Madonna in the Green”, the so-called “Beautiful Gardener” and the composition “The Entombment of Christ”, excellent in drama, are Raphael’s main works for this period.

Raphael. Madonna of the Greens, 1506

Here in Florence, Raphael takes up portraits and paints portraits of Agnolo and Maddalena Doni.

Raphael. Portrait of Agnolo Doni. 1506

The Roman period of Raphael's work

Harmoniously merging all influences together and translating them, Raphael gradually moves forward and reaches his highest perfection in the third period of his activity while in Rome. At the direction of Bramante, in 1508 Raphael Santi was summoned to Rome by Pope Julius II to decorate some Vatican halls with frescoes. The grandiose tasks that presented themselves to Raphael inspired him with a consciousness of his own strength; the proximity of Michelangelo, who simultaneously began painting the Sistine Chapel, aroused noble competition in him, and the world of classical antiquity, revealed in Rome more than anywhere else, gave his activity a sublime direction and gave plastic completeness and clarity for the expression of artistic ideas.

Painting by Raphael in Stanza della Segnatura

Three chambers (stanza) and one large hall of the Vatican are covered on the vaults and walls with frescoes by Raphael, and therefore are called “Raphael’s Stanzas”. In the first rest (Stanza della Segnatura) Raphael depicted the spiritual life of people in its highest directions. Theology, philosophy, jurisprudence and poetry float in the form of allegorical figures on the ceiling and serve as titles for four large compositions on the walls. Under the figure of Theology on the wall is the so-called “La Disputa” - The Dispute about St. Eucharist - and opposite it is the so-called “School of Athens”. The first composition brings together representatives of Christian wisdom into groups, the second - pagan, and thus characteristically reflects the Italian Renaissance. In "The Dispute" the action takes place simultaneously on earth and in heaven. In heaven sits Christ among the Mother of God and John the Baptist, somewhat lower than him are the apostles, prophets and martyrs; above Christ is God the Father with power, surrounded by angels, below Christ is the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove. On the ground in the center of the picture is an altar prepared for the offering of a bloodless sacrifice, and around it are church fathers, religious teachers and ordinary believers in several lively groups. Everything is calm in the sky; here on earth everything is full of excitement and struggle. The four Gospels, carried by angels, serve as mediators between earth and heaven.

Raphael. Dispute about the Eucharist (Dispute). 1510-1511

The stage of the “School of Athens” is an antique portico decorated with statues. In the middle are two great thinkers: the idealist Plato, who raises his hand and thought to the sky, and the realist Aristotle, who looks at the earth. They are surrounded by attentive listeners. Under the figure of Jurisprudence on the wall cut through the window, three figures are placed at the top, above the window, personifying prudence, strength and moderation, and on the sides of the window - on the left Emperor Justinian, receiving pandects from the kneeling Tribonian, on the right - Pope Gregory VII, presenting decretals to a lawyer .

Raphael. School of Athens, 1509

Opposite this fresco, under the figure of poetry, is “Parnassus,” on which great ancient and modern poets are gathered.

Painting by Raphael in Stanza di Eliodoro

In the second chamber (di Eliodoro), on the walls, with strong dramatic inspiration, are depicted “The Expulsion of Heliodorus from the Temple,” “The Miracle at Bolsena,” “The Release of the Apostle Peter from Prison,” and “Attila, stopped in his attack on Rome by the admonitions of Pope Leo I and the terrible appearance of the apostles Peter and Paul."

Raphael. Expulsion of Heliodorus from the Temple, 1511-1512

These works represent divine intercession, protecting the church from enemies external and internal. When painting this room, Raphael for the first time resorted to the help of his favorite student Giulio Romano.

Raphael. Meeting of Pope Leo I and Attila, 1514

Painting by Raphael in the Stanza del Incendio

The third chamber (dell "Incendio) is decorated with four wall frescoes depicting the fire in Borgo, stopped by the word of the pope, the victory over the Saracens at Ostia, the oath of Leo III and the coronation of Charlemagne. Only the first of them undoubtedly belongs entirely to Raphael, the rest were painted by his students according to him cardboards, which sometimes Raphael did not have time to give the final finishing.

Painting by Raphael in the Hall of Constantine

In the adjacent Hall of Constantine, finally, next to other scenes from the life of Constantine the Great, the champion of the church and the founder of its secular power, Raphael created a powerful image of the battle of Constantine - one of the majestic battle paintings of the new art, although it was mostly done by Giulio Romano.

Raphael. Battle of Constantine the Great on the Milvian Bridge, 1520-1524

Painting by Raphael in the Vatican Loggias

Without finishing the stanza, Raphael had to begin decorating the Vatican loggias - open galleries surrounding the courtyard of St. Damasus on three sides. For the loggias, Raphael made 52 sketches of scenes from the Old and New Testaments, known as the “Raphael Bible”. If we compare this Bible with the biblical paintings of Michelangelo in the Sistine Chapel, then the entire contrast between the gloomy tragedian and lyricist Michelangelo and the calm epic Raphael, who gives preference to the gratifying, the idyll, and grace, clearly appears.

Tapestries for the Sistine Chapel

Raphael's third extensive work in Rome was cardboards with scenes from the Acts of the Apostles for 10 tapestries in the Sistine Chapel, commissioned by Pope Leo X. In them, Raphael is one of the greatest masters of historical painting. At the same time, Raphael wrote “The Triumph of Galatea” in the Villa Farnesine and made sketches from the history of Psyche for the gallery of the same villa, managing to draw up drawings for dishes and boxes of incense at the request of the pope.

Life of Raphael in Rome

In 1514, Leo X appointed Raphael as chief observer of the construction of St. Peter's Cathedral, and in 1515 as guardian of ancient monuments extracted from excavations in Rome. And Raphael still found time to execute a number of excellent portraits and large paintings, which, among other things, were created by him during this Roman period; portraits of Julius II and Leo X; Madonnas: “With the Veil”, “della Sedia”, “di Foligno”, “from the House of Alba” and the most perfect of the Madonnas – “Sistine”; “Saint Cecilia”, “Carrying the Cross” (Lo Spasimo di Sicilia) and “Transfiguration”, unfinished after the artist’s death. But even now, among the many works, at the height of his fame, Raphael just as diligently prepared for each painting, carefully considering numerous sketches. And with all this, Raphael has been involved in architecture a lot in recent years: according to his plans, several churches, palaces, and villas were built, but for the Cathedral of St. He managed to do little of Peter. In addition, he made drawings for sculptors, and he himself was no stranger to sculpture: Raphael owns a marble sculpture of a child on a dolphin in the St. Petersburg Hermitage. Finally, Raphael was carried away by the thought of restoring ancient Rome.

Raphael. Sistine Madonna, 1513-1514

Overwhelmed with work since 1515, Raphael did not have a moment of peace. He did not need money, not having time to spend his earnings. Leo X made him his chamberlain and knight of the golden spur. Raphael was connected with many of the best representatives of Roman society by bonds of friendship. When he left the house, he was surrounded by a crowd of about 50 of his students, who hung on every word of their beloved teacher. Thanks to the influence of Raphael’s peaceful character, free from envy and ill will, this crowd formed a friendly family without envy and quarrels.

Death of Raphael

On April 6, 1520, Raphael died at the age of 37 from a fever that he contracted during excavations; it was fatal to his body, exhausted by extraordinary stress. Raphael was not married, but was engaged to the niece of Cardinal Bibbiena. According to Vasari, until his death Raphael was passionately attached to his beloved Fornarina, the daughter of a baker, and her features seem to have formed the basis of the face of the Sistine Madonna. The rumor that the cause of Raphael's early death was an immoral life appeared later and is not based on anything . Contemporaries speak with deep respect of Raphael's moral character. Raphael's body was buried in the Pantheon. In 1838, due to doubts, the tomb was opened, and the remains of Raphael were found completely intact.

Features of Raphael's creativity

What is striking about Raphael Santi’s work is, first of all, the artist’s inexhaustible creative imagination, the likes of which we do not see in such perfection in anyone else. The index of individual paintings and drawings by Raphael covers 1225 numbers; in all this mass of his works one cannot find anything superfluous, everything breathes simplicity and clarity, and here, as in a mirror, the whole world is reflected in its diversity. Even his Madonnas are extremely different: from one artistic idea - the image of a young mother with a child - Raphael was able to extract so many perfect images in which it can manifest itself. Another distinctive feature of Raphael's work is the combination of all spiritual gifts in wonderful harmony. Raphael has nothing dominant, everything is combined in extraordinary balance, in perfect beauty. The depth and strength of the design, the effortless symmetry and completeness of the compositions, the remarkable distribution of light and shadow, the truthfulness of life and character, the beauty of color, the understanding of the naked body and drapery - everything is harmoniously combined in his work. This multifaceted and harmonious idealism of the artist of the Renaissance, having absorbed almost all movements, did not submit to them in its creative power, but created its own original, clothed it in perfect forms, merging the Christian piety of the Middle Ages and the breadth of vision of the new man with the realism and plasticity of Greco -Roman world. Of the large crowd of his disciples, few rose above mere imitation. Giulio Romano, who took a significant part in Raphael's works and graduated from the Transfiguration, was Raphael's best student.

Raphael. Transfiguration, 1518-1520

The life and work of Raphael Santi is described in the book by Giorgio Vasari “Lives of the most famous painters, sculptors and architects” (“Vite de" più eccellenti architetti, pittori e scultori”), 1568.

All of Raphael's paintings are a vivid reflection of his subtle nature. From an early age he was endowed with a hardened work ethic and a desire for spiritual and pure beauty. Therefore, in his works he tirelessly conveyed the enchanting forms of lofty ideas. Perhaps that is why such a huge number of works were born under the master’s brush, which convey the perfection of the surrounding world and its ideals. Probably, none of the artists of the Renaissance so skillfully and deeply revived the subjects of their paintings. Just remember a real masterpiece of art of that time “ Sistine Madonna" The image of a unique, wonderful vision appears unshakably and desired before the viewer. It seems to descend from the bluish depths of heaven and envelop those around with its majestic and noble golden radiance. Mary descends solemnly and boldly, holding her baby in her arms. Such paintings by Raphael are a vivid reflection of his sublime feelings and pure sincere emotions. Monumental forms, clear silhouettes, balanced composition - this is the whole author, his aspirations for high ideals and perfection.

On his canvases, the master fell in love again with female beauty, graceful grandeur and the gentle charm of heroines. It’s not for nothing that he wrote at least two of his works “ Three Graces" And " Cupid and the Graces"dedicated to the beautiful goddesses of Roman mythology - the ancient Greek Charites. Their soft forms and rich lines embodied the most joyful, kind and bright beginning of all life. Raphael tirelessly drew inspiration from them. He purposefully depicted goddesses naked in order to bring each viewer closer to the virgin and tender nature of high art. Perhaps this is why the rest of the artist’s works vividly display divine power, sensual beauty, inextricably linked with the ideals of the surrounding world.

Text: Ksusha Kors

Biography

The era of the High Renaissance in Italy gave the world great artists: Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael, Titian. Each of them embodied the spirit and ideals of the era in their work. The works of Leonardo clearly reflected cognitive purposefulness, the works of Michelangelo - the pathos and drama of the struggle for great perfection, Titian - cheerful free-thinking, Raphael glorifies the feelings of beauty and harmony.

Raphael (more precisely Raffaello Santi) was born April 6, 1483(according to other sources, March 28, 1483) in the family of the court artist and poet of the Duke of Urbino Giovanni Santi in the city of Urbino. Raphael's father was an educated man and it was he who instilled in his son a love of art. And Raphael received his first painting lessons from his father.

When Raphael was 8 years old, his mother died, and at the age of 11, after the death of his father, he was left an orphan.

The city of Urbino, where Raphael was born and raised, in the middle of the 15th century was a brilliant artistic center, a center of humanistic culture in Italy. The young artist could get acquainted with wonderful works of art in the churches and palaces of Urbino, and the beneficial atmosphere of beauty and art awakened imagination, dreams, and cultivated artistic taste. Biographers and researchers of Raphael's work suggest that for the next 5-6 years he studied painting with mediocre Urbino masters Evangelista di Piandimeleto and Timoteo Viti.

IN 1500 year, Rafael Santi moved to Perugia to continue his education in the workshop of the most important Umbrian painter, Pietro Perugino (Vannucci). Perugino's contemplative and lyrical artistic style was close. The first artistic compositions were performed by Raphael at the age of 17-19 “ Three Graces», « Knight's Dream" and the famous " Madonna Conestabile" The theme of the Madonna is especially close to Raphael’s lyrical talent and it is no coincidence that it will remain one of the main ones in his work.

Raphael's Madonnas are usually depicted against the backdrop of landscapes, their faces breathing calm and love.

During the Peruginian period, the painter created the first monumental composition for the church - “ Mary's Betrothal", marking a new stage in his work. IN 1504 year Raphael moves to Florence. He lived in Florence for four years, occasionally traveling to Urbino, Perugia, and Bologna. In Florence, the artist becomes familiar with the artistic ideals of Renaissance art and becomes acquainted with the works of antiquity. At the same time, Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo worked in Florence, creating cardboards for battle scenes in the Palazzo Vecchiu.

Raphael studies ancient art, makes sketches from the works of Donatello, from the compositions of Leonardo and Michelangelo. He draws a lot from life, depicts models naked, and strives to correctly convey the structure of the body, its movement, and plasticity. At the same time, he studies the laws of monumental composition.

Raphael's painting style is changing: it expresses plastic more strongly, forms are more generalized, compositions are more simple and strict. During this period of his work, the image of the Madonna becomes the main one. The fragile, dreamy Umbrian Madonnas were replaced by images of more earthly full-blooded ones, their inner world became more complex and emotionally rich.

Compositions depicting Madonnas and Children brought Raphael fame and popularity: “ Madonna del Granduca" (1505), " Madonna Tempi" (1508), " Madonna of Orleans», « Madonna Column" In each painting on this subject, the artist finds new nuances, artistic fantasies make them completely different, the images acquire greater freedom and movement. The landscapes surrounding the Mother of God are a world of serenity and idyll. This period of the painter, " Madonna artist" - the flowering of his lyrical talent.

The Florentine period of Raphael’s work ends with the monumental painting “ Entombment"(1507) and marks his transition to a monumental-heroic generalized style.

in autumn 1508 Raphael moves to Rome. At that time, at the invitation of Pope Julius II, the best architects, sculptors, and painters from all over Italy came to Rome. Humanist scientists gathered around the papal court. Popes and powerful spiritual and secular rulers collected works of art and patronized science and the arts. In Rome, Raphael becomes a great master of monumental painting.

Pope Julius II commissioned Raphael to decorate the papal chambers in the Vatican Palace, the so-called stanzas (rooms), with paintings. Raphael worked on the frescoes of the Stanza for nine years - from 1508 to 1517. Raphael's frescoes became the embodiment of the humanistic dream of the Renaissance about the spiritual and physical perfection of man, his high calling and his creative potential. The themes of the frescoes that form a single cycle are the personification and glorification of Truth (Vero), Good, Good (Bene), Beauty, Beautiful (Bello). At the same time, these are, as it were, three interconnected spheres of human activity - intellectual, moral and aesthetic.

The theme of the fresco " Dispute» (« Dispute"") affirmation of the triumph of the highest truth (the truth of religious revelation), communion. On the opposite wall is the best fresco of the Vatican Stanzas, Raphael’s greatest creation “ Athens school». « Athens school"symbolizes the rational search for truth by philosophy and science. IN " Athens school“The painter depicted a meeting of ancient thinkers and scientists.

Third fresco of Stanza della Segnatura " Parnassus“- the personification of the idea of ​​Bello - Beauty, Beautiful. This fresco depicts Apollo surrounded by muses, inspiredly playing the viol; below are famous and anonymous poets, playwrights, prose writers, most of them ancient (Homer, Sappho, Alcaeus, Virgil, Dante, Petrarch...). Allegorical scene opposite " Parnassus", glorifies (Bene) Good, Good. This idea is personified by the figures of Wisdom, Measure and Strength, rhythmically united by the figures of little geniuses. Three of which symbolize virtues - Faith, Hope, Charity.

Raphael was engaged in monumental painting until the last years of his life. Raphael's surviving drawings clearly reveal the originality of the artist's creative method, the preparation and implementation of the main task of the work. The main goal is to create a holistic and complete composition.

During his years of work in Rome, Raphael received many orders for portraits. The portraits he created are simple, strict in composition; the main, most significant, unique thing in a person’s appearance stands out: “ Portrait of a Cardinal», « Portrait of the writer Baldassare Castiglione"(Raphael's friend)…

And in Raphael’s easel painting the plot with the Madonna remains a constant theme: “ Madonna Alba" (1509), " Madonna in a chair"(1514-1515), altar paintings - " Madonna di Foligno"(1511-1512), " St. Cecilia"(1514).

The greatest creation of easel painting by Raphael " Sistine Madonna"(1513-1514). The royally majestic human intercessor descends to earth. The Madonna hugs little Christ to her, but her hugs are multi-valued: they contain both love and parting - she gives him to people for suffering and torment. Madonna moves and is still. She remains in her sublime ideal world and goes to the earthly world. Mary forever brings her son to people - the embodiment, a symbol of the highest humanity, beauty and greatness of sacrificial maternal love. Raphael created an image of the Mother of God that is understandable to everyone.

The last years of Raphael's life were devoted to various areas of activity. IN 1514 In the year he was appointed to supervise the construction of St. Peter's Basilica, overseeing the progress of all construction and renovation work in the Vatican. He created architectural designs for the Church of Sant'Eliggio degli Orefici (1509), Palazzo Pandolfini in Florence, and Villa Madama.

IN 1515-1516 years, together with his students, he created cardboards for carpets intended to decorate the Sistine Chapel on holidays.

The last work is “ Transfiguration"(1518-1520) - performed with significant participation of students and was completed by them after the death of the master.

Raphael's painting reflected the style, aesthetics and worldview of the era, the era of the High Renaissance. Raphael was born to express the ideals of the Renaissance, the dream of a beautiful person and a beautiful world.

Raphael died at the age of 37 April 6, 1520. The great artist was buried with full honors in the Pantheon. Raphael remained the pride of Italy and all humanity for centuries.

(1483-1520) is one of the brightest geniuses. He experienced a difficult childhood, losing his mother and father at an early age. However, then fate, without stint, gave him everything. what he wanted was numerous orders, enormous success and great fame, wealth and honor, universal love, including the love of women. Admiring admirers called him “divine.” However, it has long been noted that fate is capricious and unpredictable. From whom she showers gifts too generously, she may suddenly turn away. This is exactly what happened to Raphael: in the prime of life and creativity, he unexpectedly died.

Raphael was an architect and painter. Following Bramante, he participated in the design and construction of the Cathedral of St. Peter, built the Chigi Chapel of the Church of Santa Maria del Popolo in Rome. However, it brought him unprecedented fame painting.

Unlike Leonardo, Raphael was completely of his time. There is nothing strange, mysterious or enigmatic in his works. Everything in them is clear and transparent, everything is beautiful and perfect. He most powerfully embodied the positive ideal of a beautiful person. A life-affirming principle reigns in his work.

The main theme of his work was the theme of Madonna, which he found an unsurpassed, ideal embodiment. It was to her that Raphael dedicated one of his early works - “Madonna Conestabile”, where Madonna is depicted with a book being leafed through by a baby. Already in this painting the important artistic principles of the great artist were clearly manifested. Madonna is devoid of holiness; she expresses not only maternal love, but embodies the ideal of a beautiful person. Everything in the picture is marked by perfection: the composition. colors, figures, landscape.

This painting was followed by a whole series of variations on the same theme - “Madonna with the Goldfinch”, “The Beautiful Gardener”. “Madonna among the greenery”, “Madonna with beardless Joseph”, “Madonna under the canopy”. A. Benois defined these variations as “charming picturesque sonnets.” All of them elevate and idealize a person, glorify beauty, harmony and grace.

After a short break, when Raphael was busy with fresco paintings, he again returned to the theme of the Madonna. In some of her images, he seems to vary previously found models. These, in particular, are “Madonna Alba” and “Madonna in an Armchair”, the composition of which is subordinated to a round frame. At the same time, he creates new types of images of Madonna.

The pinnacle in the development of the theme of the Mother of God was “ Sistine Madonna" which has become a real hymn to the physical and spiritual perfection of man. Unlike all other Madonnas, the Sistine expresses inexhaustible human meaning. It combines the earthly and the heavenly, the simple and the sublime, the close and the inaccessible. On her face you can read all human feelings: tenderness, timidity, anxiety, confidence, severity, dignity, greatness.

Chief among them, according to Winckelmann, are “noble simplicity and calm grandeur.” Measure, balance and harmony reign in the picture. It is distinguished by smooth and rounded lines, soft and melodic patterns, richness and richness of color. Madonna herself radiates energy and movement. With this work, Raphael created the most sublime and poetic image of the Madonna in Renaissance art.

Among Raphael's outstanding creations are the paintings of the personal papal chambers (stanzas) in the Vatican, dedicated to biblical subjects, as well as philosophy, art and jurisprudence.

The fresco "School of Athens" depicts a meeting of philosophers and scientists of Antiquity. In its center are the majestic figures of Plato and Aristotle, and on either side are ancient sages and scientists.

The fresco "Parnassus" represents Apollo and the Muses surrounded by the great poets of antiquity and the Italian Renaissance. All paintings are marked by the highest mastery of composition, bright decorativeness, and naturalness of the characters’ poses and gestures.