{"id":2199,"date":"2020-04-02T07:07:44","date_gmt":"2020-04-02T07:07:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vaticantour.com\/blog\/?p=2199"},"modified":"2020-04-02T09:39:13","modified_gmt":"2020-04-02T09:39:13","slug":"through-the-artists-eye-raphaels-art-in-rome","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vaticantour.com\/blog\/through-the-artists-eye-raphaels-art-in-rome","title":{"rendered":"Through the Artist\u2019s Eye: Raphael\u2019s Art in Rome"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Rome has a lifetime\u2019s worth of art to admire and marvel at. It is the seat of the High Renaissance. It is where the greats like Michelangelo and Leonardo Da Vinci worked and inspired a whole generation of artists, leaving behind a rich and unparalleled legacy for the world to treasure. With the best Vatican city tours<\/a><\/strong> you can learn about the famed paintings and the exquisite architectures of the Eternal City.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When recalling\nthe Renaissance masters of Rome, it is imperative to study and revisit another\nubiquitously known personality, Raphael.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Renowned\npainter and architect of the High Renaissance as he was, he is held in high\nregard. Raphael is often mentioned along with Michelangelo and Da Vinci, thus\nforming the famous trinity of the Italian Renaissance.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This year is the 500th anniversary of Raphael\u2019s death and there\u2019s no better way to commemorate the historic event than by perusing his artistic feats with Vatican Tours<\/a>.<\/strong> In the meantime, let\u2019s have a look at the man\u2019s life here.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Who was\nRaphael?<\/span><\/p><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Born in\n1483, in central Italy\u2019s Urbino, Raphael lived a short but artistically\nfulfilling life. Sadly, a fatal fever consumed him at the tender age of 37, but\nhis prolific career as a gifted painter and an architect lives on despite his\nshort life.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

His work is celebrated for its awe-inspiring clarity of form and beauty, especially in his depiction of human beings. In 1508 he moved to Rome, where he eventually died, making the city home to his best works.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Vatican\nMuseum<\/span><\/p><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The \u2018Four\nRaphael Rooms\u2019 in the Leonine Papal chambers of the Vatican Museum have\nfrescoes that were crafted by Raphael, and students of his, for almost a decade\nlong period.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The\nfirst room, painted between 1508 and 1511, houses the iconic \u2018School of Athens\u2019\npainting as part of the Stanza dellaSegnatura. The third room has a painting\nwhich depicts the massive Borgo fire of 847 AD.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Vatican\nPicture Gallery<\/span><\/p><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Despite\na large number of artworks on display at the gallery, Raphael\u2019s work easily\nstands out in form and brilliance.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Room\nVIII, three of his masterpieces are on display, namely the \u2018Coronation of the\nVirgin\u2019, \u2018Madonna of Foligno\u2019 and the \u2018Transfiguration\u2019. The last painting was not\nfinished before the painter\u2019s death, and it was positioned at the head of\nRaphael\u2019s funeral procession. It is undeniably one of his greatest works\ndepicting Jesus\u2019 ascent to heaven.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Villa\nFarnesina<\/span><\/p><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This\n16th-century private apartment built in Trastevere is adorned with frescoes by\nseveral painters including Raphael.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The\n\u2018Loggia of Galatea\u2019 depicts cupids with arrows and the \u2018Loggia of Cupid and\nPsyche\u2019 is an artistic depiction of the mythological lovers whose image was\nlargely used for nuptial celebrations in the 15th century.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Villa\nBarberini<\/span><\/p><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Here\nyou can find the portrait of Raphael\u2019s lover \u2018La Fornarina\u2019, or the baker\u2019s\ndaughter identified as Margherita Luti. The painting was a matter of great\ndiscussion and debate during his time: it is a portrait of a bare-chested Luti\nwith the painter\u2019s signature on her armband.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Borghese Gallery<\/span><\/p><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This\ngallery houses three of Raphael\u2019s paintings, including the iconic \u2018Deposition\nof Christ\u2019 depicting the entombment of God\u2019s son. The artwork, composed of oil\npaint on a wooden board, is a striking piece in the gallery which also houses\nworks by Bernini and Caravaggio.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Church of San\nAgostino<\/span><\/p><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The\nthird pillar of the church displays Raphael\u2019s painting of the Prophet Isaiah\ncompleted in 1512. It bears influences of Michelangelo\u2019s style of\npainting.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Church of\nSaint Mary of the Peace<\/span><\/p><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The church,\na stone\u2019s throw from Piazza Navona, houses Raphael\u2019s beautiful 1514 fresco\nof \u2018The Sybils\u2019<\/em>,\ndepicting the Sybils getting instructions\nfrom Angels. The painting was part of a series <\/em>commissioned by a banker.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Raphael was a prolific artist, evident from this list. The year 2020 marks 500 years since his death, a year which will help resuscitate interest in his works, with art shows scheduled the world over. In Rome, the Scuderie del Quirinale will host a massive exhibition on the artist\u2019s works this year. So, if you happen to be on a Vatican & Colosseum tour<\/a><\/strong>, do not forget to pay homage to the great artist. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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