Raffaello Santi is an Italian painter and architect who represents the High Renaissance. He is considered one of the three great masters of the Renaissance, alongside Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo. His works are characterized by their graceful and harmonious compositions and calm, elegant portrayals of human figures, and he is also known as the "painter of the Virgin Mary" for the beauty of his Madonna and Child. Despite his short life of only 37 years, he left a significant mark on the history of Western art.

Raffaello Santi Biography

• Born April 6, 1483 in Urbino, Italy
• From an early age, he received painting lessons from his father, the painter Giovanni Santi.
• Around 1500, he became an apprentice in Perugino's workshop and learned the Umbrian style of painting.
• In 1504, he moved to Florence, where he was influenced by the art of Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo.
• In 1508, he was invited by Pope Julius II to create murals for the Vatican's "Salle des Signatures" and other murals.
• In 1514 he was appointed chief architect of St. Peter's Basilica.
• Died in Rome on April 6, 1520 (aged 37)

Representative works

• The School of Athens (1509-1511)
• Sistine Madonna (1512-1513)
• Madonna della Seggiola (1513-1514)
• Transfiguration (1516-1520)
• Madonna del Granduca (c. 1504)

The style of Raphael Santi

Raphael's style of painting is characterized by harmony , balance , and elegance . During his time in Florence, he established his own unique style while being influenced by Leonardo da Vinci's sfumato (blurring technique) and Michelangelo's powerful depiction of the human body. During his time in Rome, he also acquired a sense of grandeur and drama through mural decorations in the Vatican Palace. In particular, his Madonna and Child images captivate the viewer with their calm, dignified expressions and graceful movements. This is why he is called the " painter of the Virgin Mary ." His bright colors and clear shapes, and his composition became the model for artists in later generations.

The influence of Raffaello Santi and his later reputation

Despite his short life, Raphael had a great influence on the history of Western art. His harmonious compositions and graceful depictions of figures became the standard for later Academic paintings, and became an important standard for art education until the 19th century. In particular, his Madonna and Child was repeatedly imitated by later painters, and Raphael's art became widely popular. Today, Raphael is highly regarded around the world as a master representative of the High Renaissance . Keywords such as " the three great masters of the Renaissance ," " painter of the Madonna ," " the School of Athens ," " the Vatican Palace ," " harmony ," and " elegance " are important elements in understanding Raphael's art. His works continue to inspire and inspire people throughout the ages.