RaphaelPaintings.net cover the career of this famous Italian painter whose career came towards the end of the influential period of the High Renaissance. There are also Raphael paintings included here.
Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino was the full name of this artist who became remembered as a truly academic artist who strongly divided opinion for those who followed on after his career. This website looks into the life and works of Raphael and offers images of his best paintings.
Raphael was held in such high regard that he is mentioned in the same breath as Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo who were the finest Renaissance artists of all, and Raphael played his own part in this crucial development of art which came towards the end of the Renaissance era. Raphael passed away at the age of 37 in 1520 and it was then that the new art movements started to appear, offering new directions which went against the traditional academic style of Raphael.
Raphael paintings are wide ranging in topic, though most addressed religious themes. Vatican Stanza della Segnatura holds the most famous Raphael work of all, namely The School of Athens. You can see that complex and inspiring painting above alongside links to where you can buy your own reproduction copies as framed giclee art prints, posters or stretched canvases.
The reputation of the three great Renaissance artists, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo and Raphael, have varied over the past few centuries with different generations finding more inspiration from one rather than another. It was during the 18th and 19th centuries that the more regimented approach of Raphael was preferred and most saw his classically correct approach as the best way to go for all new artists interested in this type of art.
Raphael is best remembered for his religious depictions but there were also many impressive portraits which came around the start of the 16th century. The best included his portraits of Elisabetta Gonzaga, Pope Julius II, Bindo Altoviti and Baldassare Castiglione. Besides his paintings there were also a huge number of stylish preparatory sketches, some of which we have included here in this website.
Baroque art movements followed on closely after the career of Raphael and they were keen to bring very different ideas into the art world, quickly brushing aside the academically taught methods of artists like Raphael. In the modern day most artists have found a place in art history and can be fairly compared with each other, regardless of personal taste which is now far more varied and inclusive.
