Biography of Raphael Santi - the greatest artist of the Renaissance

Rafael Santi is the greatest Renaissance painter. His hands belong to such masterpieces of world painting as "Sistine Madonna", "Madonna of Granduca", "Three Graces", "Athenian School", etc.

Biography of Raphael Santi

In 1483 in the city of Urbino, in the family of the painter Giovanni Santi, a son was born, who was named Raphael. From the very childhood, he observed how his father works in the studio, and studied painting art from him. After the death of his father Rafael was in the studio of the great artist Pietro Perugino in Perugia. It is with this provincial workshop that the biography of Raphael Santi begins as a painter. His first works, which later received the recognition of art lovers, were a fresco "Madonna and Child", a banner on which was depicted the "Holy Trinity", and the image on the altar "The Coronation of Saint Nicola from Tolentino" for the temple in the city of Città di Chita, Castello. These works were written by him at the age of 17. For two or three years, Rafael created pictures of exclusively religious themes. He especially liked to draw Madonna. During this period, he wrote "Madonna Solly", "Madonna Conestabile", etc. The first works not on the biblical themes were paintings "Dream of a Knight" and "Three Graces."

Biography of Raphael Santi: the Florentine period

In 1504, Raphael moved from Perugia to Florence. Here he meets the greatest artists of the time, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo Buonarroti and other Florentine masters, and their works make a deep impression on him. Raphael begins to study the technique of these masters and even makes copies of some pictures. For example, his copy of Leonardo's "Leda and the Swan" still survives. In Michelangelo - a great master of the image of the human body - he tries to adopt the technique of drawing the right postures and facial expressions.

Artist Rafael. Biography: Roman period

In 1508, a 25-year-old painter travels to Rome. He is entrusted with the monumental painting of some walls and ceiling in the Vatican Palace. That's where the artist Rafael can truly prove himself! His biography, starting from this period, leads the master to the heights of glory. His giant fresco "The Athenian School" was recognized as a masterpiece by the highest spiritual ranks.

For a while Rafael Santi is in charge of the construction of St. Peter's Cathedral. At the same time, he creates several more Madonna. In 1513, the artist finishes working on one of the most famous paintings of world painting - "Sistine Madonna", which more than others perpetuated his name. Thanks to this picture, he won the favor of Pope Julius II, who appointed him to the post of chief artist of the Apostolic See.

His main work at the papal court was the painting of the ceremonial chambers. However, the artist also managed to draw portraits of noble nobles, made several of his self-portraits. The entire biography of Raphael Santi is nevertheless connected with the writing of paintings with the image of the Madonna. In the future, art historians explained this is his predilection for the desire to find the ideal of purity and purity. The world knows more than 200 paintings with the image of the Madonna, belonging to the brush of Raphael, although this is by far not their exact number. Rafael Santi died at the age of 37 in Rome, but his paintings continue to fascinate connoisseurs of real art for many centuries.