# Raphael

> Italian painter and architect (1483–1520)

**Wikidata**: [Q5597](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5597)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raphael)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/raphael

## Summary
Raphael (Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino) was a preeminent Italian painter and architect who lived from 1483 to 1520. He is celebrated as one of the greatest masters of the High Renaissance, renowned for his mastery of fresco painting, portraiture, and religious art, including iconic works like *The School of Athens* and the *Sistine Madonna*. His career spanned the creation of numerous masterpieces for the Vatican and private patrons, establishing a legacy that defined the artistic standards of his era.

## Biography
- **Born**: April 6, 1483 (alternatively cited as March 28, 1483, or simply 1483) in Urbino, Italy (implied by citizenship Q12548 and aliases).
- **Nationality**: Italian (Citizenship: Holy Roman Empire / Q12548; Country of origin Q38).
- **Education**: Not explicitly detailed in the provided source material, though his early works suggest training in the workshop of Perugino (implied by *Portrait of Perugino*).
- **Known for**: Creating some of the most famous frescoes, paintings, and architectural designs of the High Renaissance, including the Raphael Rooms and *The School of Athens*.
- **Employer(s)**: The Vatican (Palace of the Vatican), various noble patrons (e.g., Pope Julius II, Cardinal Alessandro Farnese), and the workshop of Pieter Van Aelst (for tapestry designs).
- **Field(s)**: Painting, Architecture, Drafting, Design, History Painting, Portrait Painting, Religious Art, Mythological Painting.

## Contributions
Raphael's output was vast, encompassing paintings, frescoes, tapestry designs, and architectural projects. His concrete contributions include:

**Frescoes and Wall Paintings**
- **The School of Athens** (1512): A monumental fresco in the Vatican (Country: Q237) depicting philosophers, representing the pinnacle of High Renaissance art.
- **Raphael Rooms** (1508–1524): A suite of reception rooms in the Palace of the Vatican painted by Raphael and his workshop, including:
    - *Disputation of the Holy Sacrament* (1509)
    - *The Parnassus* (1500)
    - *The Expulsion of Heliodorus from the Temple* (1511)
    - *The Mass at Bolsena* (1512)
    - *The Fire in the Borgo* (1514)
    - *The Battle of Ostia* (1514)
    - *The Meeting of Leo the Great and Attila* (1513)
    - *The Vision of the Cross* (1520)
    - *The Coronation of Charlemagne* (Workshop of Raphael, designs by Raphael)
    - *The Oath of Leo III* (Workshop of Raphael)
    - *The Baptism of Constantine* (Painted by Gianfrancesco Penni, designs by Raphael)
- **Other Frescoes**:
    - *Galatea* (1510, Country: Q38)
    - *Prophet Isaiah* (1511–1512)
    - *Sibyls* (1514)
    - *Liberation of Saint Peter* (1514)

**Paintings (Portraits, Religious, and Mythological)**
- **Religious Works**:
    - *The Marriage of the Virgin* (1504, Country: Q38)
    - *Madonna of the Goldfinch* (1505)
    - *Madonna del Prato* (1505)
    - *The Deposition* (1507)
    - *Sistine Madonna* (1512, Country: Q183)
    - *Transfiguration* (1518, Country: Q237)
    - *Madonna del Granduca* (1506, Country: Q38)
    - *Madonna and Child with the Book* (1503)
    - *Resurrection of Christ* (1500, Country: Q155)
    - *La fornarina* (1519)
    - *Alba Madonna* (1511)
    - *Holy Family with Saint Elizabeth and the infant St. John* (1517)
    - *La velata* (1513, Country: Q38)
    - *Madonna della tenda* (1513)
    - *Three Graces* (1500–1504)
    - *Saint Michael Vanquishing Satan* (1504 and 1518 versions)
    - *Garvagh Madonna* (1500)
    - *Niccolini-Cowper Madonna* (1511)
    - *Portrait of a Man* (1503, Country: Q38)
    - *Portrait of Emilia Pia da Montefeltro* (1504)
    - *Madonna and Child Enthroned with Saints* (1504)
    - *Colonna Madonna* (1500)
    - *Self-portrait* (1505)
    - *Madonna of Foligno* (1511)
    - *Portrait of Pietro Bembo* (1504)
    - *Visitation* (1517)
    - *Portrait of Cardinal Alessandro Farnese* (1509, Country: Q38)
    - *Ansidei Madonna* (1505)
    - *Portrait of Guidobaldo da Montefeltro* (1506)
    - *Madonna Diotallevi* (1502)
    - *Portrait of Tommaso Inghirami* (1510, Country: Q38)
    - *Solly Madonna* (1500–1501)
    - *Ezekiel's Vision* (1518)
    - *Madonna of the Pinks* (1506)
    - *Madonna d'Orleans* (1506)
    - *Saint Catherine of Alexandria* (1507)
    - *Madonna of Loreto* (1509, Country: Q142)
    - *The Battle of Ostia* (1514)
    - *Small Cowper Madonna* (1505)
    - *Saint George and the Dragon* (1505, National Gallery of Art; 1500/1504, Louvre)
    - *Madonna of Divine Love* (1516)
    - *St. Michael Vanquishing Satan* (1518)
    - *Madonna della Seggiola* (1513)
    - *Christ Blessing* (1505)
    - *Saint Sebastian* (1501, Country: Q38)
    - *Portrait of Maddalena Doni* (1505)
    - *Madonna of the Baldacchino* (1507)
    - *Mond Crucifixion* (1502)
    - *Portrait of Pope Julius II* (1511, three versions)
    - *Portrait of a Young Woman* (1507)
    - *The Ecstasy of Saint Cecilia* (1514)
    - *La donna gravida* (1505)
    - *Esterhazy Madonna* (1508)
    - *Oddi Altarpiece* (1502)
    - *Tempi Madonna* (1508, Alte Pinakothek)
    - *Portrait of Elisabetta Gonzaga* (1504, attributed)
    - *Portrait of a Young Man with an Apple* (1504, Country: Q38)
    - *Bridgewater Madonna* (1507)
    - *Madonna and Child (The Conestabile Madonna)* (1504)
    - *The Holy Family with a Lamb* (1507)
    - *Portrait of Agnolo Doni* (1500, Country: Q38)
    - *Portrait of a Cardinal* (1510)
    - *Portrait of Perugino* (1504)
    - *The Holy Family* (1518)
    - *Portrait of Cardinal Bibbiena* (1516)
    - *Saint Margaret and the Dragon* (1518)
    - *Perla di Modena* (1518, attributed)
    - *Portrait of a young woman* (1519–1520, with Giulio Romano)
    - *Baronci Altarpiece* (1500, fragments held by museums)
    - *Young Woman with Unicorn* (1505, Country: Q38)
    - *Holy Family of Francis I* (1518, Louvre)
    - *Portrait of Bindo Altoviti* (1515)
    - *Christ Falling on the Way to Calvary* (1515)
    - *Saint John the Baptist in the Wilderness* (1516, attributed to workshop)
    - *Saint John the Baptist as a Boy* (1518, with workshop, Country: Q38)
    - *La Belle Jardinière* (1500)
    - *Portrait of Andrea Navagero and Agostino Beazzano* (1516)
    - *Portrait of a Man* (1503)
    - *Portrait of a Young Man with an Apple* (1504)

**Architectural and Design Works**
- **Palazzo Branconio dell'Aquila** (1520, Country: Q38): A building in Rome.
- **Raphael Cartoons** (1510): Full-scale designs for tapestries.
- **Acts of the Apostles tapestries** (1521): Tapestries in the Vatican collection designed by Raphael and woven by the workshop of Pieter Van Aelst.

## FAQs
**What are Raphael's most famous works?**
Raphael is best known for the fresco *The School of Athens* (1512) and the *Sistine Madonna* (1512). He also created the extensive cycle of frescoes in the Raphael Rooms within the Vatican Palace between 1509 and 1524.

**Did Raphael work in architecture?**
Yes, Raphael was trained as an architect and designed buildings such as the Palazzo Branconio dell'Aquila in Rome, completed in 1520. He also served as an architectural draftsperson and designer.

**Who was Raphael's most famous model and mistress?**
Margarita Luti, an Italian woman, served as Raphael's mistress and was the model for several of his paintings, including *La fornarina*.

**What genres of art did Raphael specialize in?**
He mastered history painting, portrait painting, religious art, and mythological painting. His work often blended classical themes with Christian subjects, such as in *The School of Athens* and *The Transfiguration*.

**Where did Raphael's works end up?**
His paintings are located in major institutions across Europe, including the Vatican (Italy), the Louvre (France), the National Gallery of Art (USA), the Alte Pinakothek (Germany), and the Galleria Borghese (Italy).

**Did Raphael work alone or with a workshop?**
While he produced many masterpieces personally, he also led a large workshop. Works like *The Baptism of Constantine* and *The Coronation of Charlemagne* were executed by his assistants (such as Gianfrancesco Penni) based on his designs.

## Why They Matter
Raphael fundamentally shaped the visual language of the High Renaissance and Western art history. His ability to synthesize the classical ideals of antiquity with Christian theology created a harmonious style that became the academic standard for centuries. Without his innovations in composition, perspective, and the idealization of the human form, the trajectory of European art would have lacked the clarity and balance that defined the era. His influence extended beyond painting into architecture and tapestry design, and his workshop model allowed his style to proliferate widely after his death. The sheer volume and quality of his output, from intimate Madonnas to grand Vatican frescoes, established him as a peer to Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo, securing his place as a central figure in the cultural history of the Holy Roman Empire and Italy.

## Notable For
- **Master of the High Renaissance**: Recognized alongside Leonardo and Michelangelo as one of the three great masters of the era.
- **The Raphael Rooms**: Created the most famous suite of frescoes in the Vatican, including *The School of Athens*.
- **Prolific Output**: Produced over 50 documented paintings and numerous frescoes, tapestries, and architectural designs in a short lifespan.
- **Versatility**: Excelled in multiple disciplines including painting, architecture, drafting, and design.
- **Religious and Mythological Synthesis**: Successfully blended pagan mythology (e.g., *Galatea*, *Three Graces*) with Christian iconography.
- **Portrait Mastery**: Created definitive portraits of popes (Julius II), cardinals, and nobility that set new standards for psychological depth.
- **Workshop Leadership**: Managed a large team of assistants who executed works based on his designs, expanding his influence.
- **Awards**: Received the Order of the Golden Spur, a papal order of knighthood.
- **Legacy**: His style influenced generations of artists, including Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres, Guido Reni, and François de Poilly.
- **Cultural Icon**: His name is associated with an asteroid (9957 Raffaellosanti), a crater on Mercury, and various cultural institutions.

## Body

### Early Life and Identity
Raphael, born Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino, was an Italian painter and architect born in 1483. While specific birth dates vary in records (April 6, March 28, or simply the year 1483), his life was brief, ending on April 6 or 7, 1520. He was a citizen of the Holy Roman Empire, a multi-ethnic complex that included the Italian territories where he worked. His full name and aliases include Raffaello Sanzio, Santi Raphael, Raffale Sanzio, and Rafael Sanzio. He is classified as a human, visual artist, painter, architect, draftsperson, architectural draftsperson, designer, and court painter.

### Career and Employers
Raphael's career was defined by his service to the Vatican and various noble patrons. He worked extensively in the Palace of the Vatican, where he and his workshop painted the Raphael Rooms between 1508 and 1524. He also held the position of court painter, creating works for the royal and noble families of the time. His professional network included the workshop of Pieter Van Aelst for tapestry production and collaborations with assistants like Gianfrancesco Penni and Giulio Romano. He was affiliated with Margarita Luti, who served as his model and mistress.

### Major Works and Projects
Raphael's oeuvre is vast and diverse, covering frescoes, panel paintings, and designs.
**Frescoes**: His most significant contribution is the cycle in the Vatican, featuring *The School of Athens* (1512), *The Disputation of the Holy Sacrament* (1509), and *The Expulsion of Heliodorus* (1511). Other major frescoes include *Galatea* (1510), *The Fire in the Borgo* (1514), and *The Vision of the Cross* (1520). Some frescoes, like *The Baptism of Constantine*, were executed by his workshop based on his designs.
**Paintings**: He produced iconic religious works such as the *Sistine Madonna* (1512), *The Transfiguration* (1518), and *The Deposition* (1507). His portraits include the *Portrait of Baldassare Castiglione* (1515), *Portrait of Pope Julius II* (1511), and *Portrait of Cardinal Alessandro Farnese* (1509). He also painted numerous Madonnas, including the *Madonna of the Goldfinch* (1505), *Madonna del Prato* (1505), and *La fornarina* (1519).
**Designs**: Raphael designed the *Raphael Cartoons* (1510) for tapestries and the *Acts of the Apostles* tapestry series (1521). In architecture, he designed the Palazzo Branconio dell'Aquila (1520) in Rome.

### Artistic Genres and Style
Raphael worked across several genres, including history painting, portrait painting, religious art, and mythological painting. His style is characterized by clarity, harmony, and the idealization of the human form. He frequently depicted biblical scenes, such as *The Resurrection of Christ* (1500) and *The Marriage of the Virgin* (1504), as well as mythological subjects like *The Three Graces* (1500–1504) and *Saint George and the Dragon* (1505). His work often combined classical antiquity with Christian themes, reflecting the intellectual currents of the Renaissance.

### Recognition and Legacy
Raphael received the Order of the Golden Spur, a papal honor. His influence extended to later artists such as Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres, Barbara Longhi, François de Poilly, and Guido Reni. His legacy is commemorated in various ways, including the asteroid 9957 Raffaellosanti and the crater Raphael on Mercury. His works are held in major museums worldwide, including the Louvre, the Vatican Museums, the National Gallery of Art, and the Alte Pinakothek. The sheer volume of his work, with over 190 sitelinks in knowledge bases, attests to his enduring significance in art history.

### Personal Life and Associates
Raphael's personal life included a relationship with Margarita Luti, an Italian model who inspired several of his works. He worked closely with assistants and workshop members, including Gianfrancesco Penni and Giulio Romano, who continued his legacy after his death. His circle of influence included notable figures like Pope Julius II and Cardinal Alessandro Farnese, who commissioned many of his masterpieces.

### Historical Context
Raphael lived during a time of significant political and cultural change in Europe, within the Holy Roman Empire. His work coincided with the height of the Renaissance, a period marked by a revival of classical learning and artistic innovation. The empire, which encompassed much of Central Europe and parts of Italy, provided the cultural and political backdrop for his career. His death in 1520 marked the end of an era, but his influence persisted through his students and the enduring popularity of his works.

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