Notes on Raphael

Early Life

• Father: Giovanni Santi, a well-known artist, and owner of a thriving workshop in Urbino.
• Mother: Passed away when Raphael was 8 years old.
• Father's Death: Raphael lost his father at age 11.

Apprenticeship

• Location: Perugia.
• Mentor: Pietro Vannucci (Perugino), a famous artist of the 16th century.
• Talent: Recognized as a precocious talent; commissioned works by significant Umbrian lords by age 18.
• Friendship: Became friends with Pinturicchio during his apprenticeship.

Move to Florence

• Age: 21.
• Influence: Inspired by the works of Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo.
• Notable Works: Created several Madonnas, particularly fond of:
  • Lady of the Belvedere
  • Madonna Esterhazy
  • Madonna of the Goldfinch

Rome and Papal Commission

• Pope Julius II: Invited Raphael to Rome at 25.
• Frescoes: Worked on frescoes in the papal apartments.
  • Notable Work: "The School of Athens" inspired by medieval university faculties: theology, philosophy, poetry, and law.
  • Features of Classical Scholars:
    • Heraclitus resembling Michelangelo,
    • Plato resembling Leonardo da Vinci,
    • Euclid resembling Bramante.

Artistic Approach

• Entrepreneurial Skills: Organized his workshop to handle multiple projects simultaneously.
• High Demand: Clients often had to wait long periods for his works due to high demand.

Architectural Contributions

• St. Peter's Basilica: Worked on the project starting in 1514.

Notable Masterpieces

• The Marriage of the Virgin: His first signed work.
• The Deposition Borghese
• The Resurrection of Christ
• The Three Graces
• Transfiguration: His last unfinished work completed by Giulio Romano.

Death

• Date: Died on Good Friday, 1520, at age 37.
• Contemporaneous Beliefs: His death coincided with a storm; believed to be a sign of the loss of a deity.
• Cause of Death: Historian Vasari suggested it was due to a fever from amorous excesses.
• Burial: His body is preserved in the Pantheon in Rome.