During his short but vibrant life, Rafael Santi created many masterpieces, which are still no equal. He was a follower of artists Perugino, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, but in the end he achieved perfection and an inimitable realistic manner in painting. We know about the great variety of Raphael's paintings, but we will try to choose the most famous and beautiful works among them.
The 20 most amazing works of Raphael Santi:
1
Donna Velata (1516)
Rafael was at the peak of his work when he painted a portrait of “Donna Velata” or “Lady with a Veil”. He was only 32 years old.
Margarita Luti, an ordinary girl, the daughter of a baker is depicted by the artist with trepidation and love, as she was his sense of life. Rafael was so in love with the girl that he offered her father a huge cash ransom - more than 3,000 ducats. Fornarina, so called his wife Raphael, which means "bun." The couple were happy. And after 6 years, Raphael died suddenly. Margarita did not accept the huge inheritance of her husband and went to the monastery, where he was reputed to be his widow until the end of her days.
Margarita in the portrait is depicted in clothes of delicate beige and pink tones, her head, like that of a married lady under a veil. Santi, in love, conveyed the beauty and calm character of his wife in a refined, elegant pose. Margarita’s face is as tender as a peach, her eyes are beautiful, huge, and are blessed with happiness. A beautiful neck and hairstyle is decorated with jewelry. Margarita is depicted in the portrait as an exquisite jewel, and the admiration of the master for his model is conveyed to the viewer.
By the way, we wrote about the most beautiful eyes in the world and their owners in our article on most-beauty.ru.
2
The Transfiguration (1516–1520)
Rafael began to write “Transfiguration” for the altar of the Narbonne Cathedral, at the request of Cardinal Giulio Medici, but did not complete it, as he suddenly died of an unknown illness. The painting was completed by the artist Giulio Romano.
The plot is based on the gospel story when Jesus Christ decided to reveal his essence to the disciples. From heaven, the apostles heard the voice of God that Christ is his true Son.
After this, Jesus went down from the mountain with the apostles, and the unfortunate father turned to him with a request to heal his son from the devil who had settled in him.
Raphael portrayed Jesus soaring above all, which is a symbol of his divinity. A little lower, in the middle of the canvas - the Apostles are waiting for Christ, and people gathered below, waiting for a miracle of healing. The upper light and airy part of the picture was painted by Raphael, and the lower part is darker by another person. Here you can see the hand of the master, who wrote in a completely different manner.
3
Sistine Madonna (1512)
Rafael painted the image of Mary and Christ many times, but this work, intended for the altar of the chapel of Sixtus II, became a real masterpiece. The image of Madonna Santi was written from his wife Margarita (Fornarina). A beautiful, inspired face reflects universal sadness, and the pain of a mother anticipating the self-sacrifice of her son and his death for the salvation of all mankind. At the top of the picture, surrounded by ethereal angels, Mary is walking, gently holding her dearest in her arms - the baby Jesus.
The kid is depicted in full health, with slightly disheveled hair. His angelic appearance contrasts with his age-intelligent eyes, as if he already knows everything about his destiny. Sixtus II and the Great Martyr Barbara bowed at Mary's feet. Below, at the edge of the canvas, as if peering out of a window, two mischievous angels look up carefree. They do not intervene in what is happening, as they know in advance what awaits Mary and her child.
4
Stanzi (1508-1517)
fresco "Virtues and the law."
The painting (frescoes) of the Vatican's palace buildings, made by the master along with his students, is called Stanza della Senyatura (the so-called Signature Room). The walls of this room are decorated with frescoes "Athens School", "Dispute", "Justice" and "Parnassus." One of the most famous are the frescoes "Athens School" and "Dispute." You will now learn about them.
5
Athens School (1508)
Athenian school.
Rafael Santi was a very famous painter among his contemporaries, and in 1508, at the request of Pope Julius II, went to Rome to paint the main premises of the Vatican. One of the frescoes from Stanzadel Senyatur is a fresco representing philosophy. It is called the "School of Athens" and depicts leading thinkers since ancient Greece. On the ascending steps of the Athenian school, under the huge arches in the center, Plato and Aristotle are depicted. Plato points to the sky, and Aristotle to the earth, linking celestial and terrestrial space together.
Socrates talks with Alexander the Great, Pythagoras at the bottom left, in the circle of students, unravels the theorem. Santi also portrayed the great contemporary Michelangelo in the image of Heraclitus. Euclid draws a compass drawing.
Raphael painted over 50 figures in a fresco. The steps of the depicted building rise up, identifying the periods of development of philosophy and various sciences.
6
The fresco "Disputation" (1509-1510)
In the center of the composition is the Holy Trinity. God the Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove. Next to Christ are his mother Mary and John the Baptist, and then on the cloud saints Peter, Paul and other characters of the Gospel sit. Below the frescoes, scholars, philosophers and pontiffs of the church lead a theological debate.
7
Fresco "Parnassus" (1511)
At first this fresco was called “Poetry”, a little later it became known as “Parnassus”, it is located between the fresco “Athenian school” and “Disputation”. Poetry was highly valued during the High Renaissance, and was considered divine art. On a hill in the center of the fresco depicts Apollo playing a modern musical instrument - lyre da braccio, which had not yet been in ancient Greece. By this, Raphael conveyed the continuity of cultures. Around Apollo, muses and poets Homer and Michelangelo, whom Santi also attributed to the great poets.
8
The Betrothal of the Virgin Mary (1504)
The Betrothal of the Virgin Mary is the artist's most revered work. It is a logical transition from the manner of painting of the school of Perugino to a manner that will excel Raphael's skill and become a milestone in the era of the Great Renaissance.
Raphael was inspired by the frescoes of his teacher Perugino. By signing this painting, Santi, already as a true master, confidently declared himself to the whole world.
The main characters of the picture are the Virgin Mary and the betrothed Joseph, who puts a wedding ring on her finger. A couple is surrounded by witnesses of what is happening. The flowering staff in Joseph's hand means that Mary is chosen by God. The staves of the other suitors, who stand apart, remain the same, and they are broken in desperation.
This is one of Raphael's most famous paintings. The color scheme is very calm, brown and yellow tones prevail in it. The bright red dress of Mary means the blood of Christ, and the blue cloak - her integrity.
9
The Triumph of Galatea (1512)
The Triumph of Galatea is a mural painted by Raphael for the banquet hall of the banker from Siena Agostino Chigi. She portrays the nymph of calmness of the water surface of Galatea, which flies through the waves, standing on a shell drawn by dolphins. She is surrounded by newts, mollusks and other fabulous marine characters. Cupids circled above them, aiming in all directions with their arrows. The exquisite fresco is full of joy and fun.
10
The Beautiful Gardener (1507)
Raphael's "Beautiful Gardener" depicts the Virgin Mary and two babies - her son Jesus and John the Baptist. The adorable young Maria is the embodiment of femininity, motherhood and boundless love. She is turned to Jesus, slightly bending over him. Little Jesus is also all absorbed in his mother, he confidentially pressed against her, and she supports him by the arm and shoulders. The idyll of understanding between mother and baby is emphasized by their gentle views. Little John bowed before Jesus. In his hands is a cross, as a symbol of the crucifix.
The figures organically fit into the beautiful landscape, which creates a feeling of lightness and cloudless happiness.
11
The Three Graces (1504)
Presumably, “Three Graces” Santi wrote at the age of 17 years. What prompted Raphael to write such a complex picture at such an early age? Santi was left without a mother early, and he was always attracted by the pure image of the Madonna, as a symbol of youth and motherhood. Creating “Three Graces”, Raphael combined the image of the ancient goddesses and the face of the immaculate Madonna, as the graces were a symbol of youth, love and purity.
The three graces that identified these beautiful exalted qualities were called Beauty, Love and Innocence. The girls in the picture are young and beautiful, their faces shine with purity and kindness. They gently cling to each other and each in his hand holds golden spheres - a symbol of the legendary apples of perfection obtained by Heracles. The central figure of one of the graces is turned with its back to the viewer, the two extreme figures are facing the viewer, but their eyes are directed in different directions. This early painting by Raphael is one of the first steps on the path to impeccable perfection.
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12
"Portrait of Count Baldassare Castiglione" (1515)
Count Baldassare - an Italian diplomat and writer, was the ambassador of the Duke of Urbinsky, served at the court of King Louis XII of France. He authored the book “Dialogues on the Court”, popular in those days, which describes exquisite customs and conversations in the course of the formed Urbinsky Court. Raphael portrayed the count as a very worthy and intelligent man, as a whole nature. The portrait is painted in dark brown tones, and only the color of blue eyes attracts attention. This confident and calm look magically attracts the viewer.
13
"Position in the grave" (1507)
Among the Italian nobility there was a tradition, in honor of some tragic event, to order paintings from eminent artists with the gospel story. Such was the picture "Position in the Tomb", which was ordered by Atalanta Baglioni in memory of the deceased son. There are many drawings and sketches made by Raphael before starting work.
As a result of such a titanic work, a picture with an impeccable composition was born. It represents two groups of people separated by two imaginary lines that diverge in different directions. Women accompanying the Virgin are tilted to the right, men carrying the body of Christ to the left. Christ is depicted in the very center. His ideal athletic body resembles Christ os the sculpture “Pietta” by Michelangelo, since at that time the artist was greatly impressed by the creativity of this titan of sculpture and painting.
14
Fornarina (1520)
The picture is painted in oil on a wooden board. The artist’s students also took part in this work. The picture depicts a half-naked young woman in an exquisite headdress. The model was the wife of Raphael, whom he tenderly called "Fornarina", which is translated from Italian as "bun." In fact, the artist’s beautiful wife was called Margarita Luti. Santi repeatedly wrote his beloved; she inspired him in more elevated images, such as the Sistine Madonna.
15
Fresco "The Expulsion of Eliodor" (1512)
The plot of this mural was borrowed from the texts of the Old Testament. The commander of the Syrian king, Eliodor, tried to confiscate gold from the Temple of Jerusalem for the poor. For this, God punished him by sending him a rider in gold armor. The fresco was an allegory of the defeat of French troops in the papal region under the leadership of Pope Julius II, who was known not only as an excellent military commander, but also as a generous philanthropist. This mural visually resembles the Athens School mural. Compositionally, it is divided into two equal parts - left and right. On the left side, Rafael depicted his patron Pope Julius II and a crowd of widows and orphans, and on the right side - Eliodor, who is driven out of the temple by a rider on a white horse.
A beautifully constructed perspective of the composition conveys the depth of space, at the convergence point of all its lines a minor is depicted, indicating that this is the Second Temple in Jerusalem. The great place of the event is emphasized by the rich painting of the vaults.
16
“The Battle of St. George with the Dragon” (1504–1505)
Leaving Perugia, young Raphael went to Florence, where, surrounded by great painters, he drew new ideas and methods of painting. The painting “The Battle of St. George with the Dragon” is painted in oil on a tree and identifies the transition period from the style of the Umbrian school, which was linear, to the style of the Florentine school. Santi was shocked by the works of Leonardo and Michelangelo, their realism and deep meaning. The biblical story on the theme of St. George the Victorious was very popular, and Raphael could not miss the chance to paint a picture on this topic. White horse George tramples the dragon's hooves, and the saint pierces him with his spear.
St. George is depicted in medieval armor and looks more like a knight. The dragon is depicted by an unthinkable fairy-tale monster, combining parts of various birds and animals. The picture is extremely realistic, the landscape against which the battle is taking place is carefully written out, but it does not clog the foreground. Its muted brown-olive gamut perfectly emphasizes the whiteness of the horse and the radiance of the rider's armor.
17
“Madonna of the Grand” (1505)
There is a very interesting article about the most beautiful Madonnas of Santi on the site TopCafe.su.
“The Madonna of the Grand” depicts the most popular gospel story — the Madonna and Child. It was written under the great influence of the works of Leonardo da Vinci. This is especially noticeable when comparing this picture with previous works by Raphael. It is made in the sphumato technique, which softens the contours of the figures, transfers air and space. Studies of restorers showed that previously behind the Madonna a window with a landscape was depicted, as in some works of Leonardo. But subsequently the window was painted over, and the background of the picture became completely dark. Who made this background - the author himself or subsequent restorations - is unknown.
Maria is dressed in a red dress with a black border, classic for the 16th century, with a blue veil thrown over her head. These colors are traditional - red means the symbol of the blood of Christ, and blue means the purity of the Virgin. Maria's face is sad and calm at the same time. In her hands she gently holds the baby Jesus, who looks like an ordinary child, chubby and strong. Subsequently, this image Rafael used in his other paintings depicting the Madonna and Child.
18
“Madonna in the chair” (1515)
“Madonna in the chair” is one of the most beautiful paintings of the Renaissance, depicting the Madonna and Child. The model for Raphael's painting was again served by his beloved model, girlfriend and wife Margarita. This work reflects the size and maturity of the artist.
The round shape of the picture softens the image, makes it cozy and homely. The whole space is completely filled with three figures - Mary, the baby Jesus and the baby John the Baptist. Baby Jesus takes center stage, comfortably sitting in the arms of his mother. Mary holds her son tightly against her, while John the Baptist looks at Christ with supplication. Bright colors dominated by blue, juicy red, emerald and golden ocher look amazingly beautiful against a dark background. And despite the fact that Mary looks like an ordinary earthly woman hugging her child, her elegant clothes, her spiritual sublime beauty emphasize the high status of the Madonna.
19
Portrait of Pope Julius II (1512)
There are two similar portraits of Pope Julius II, one of which is Santi's original work, and the other is a copy of the portrait, made by Raphael's disciples. Contemporaries claimed that the pope in the portrait looks as if alive.The red mantle of the pope looks very contrasted against a bright green background.
Papa’s face is wrinkled and framed by a gray beard, his eyes are thoughtful and penetrating, but in general, the figure of Julius II is still full of strength and energy. This man led active military campaigns during his lifetime, but at the same time he was an amazing philanthropist who supported the work of Leonardo, Michelangelo and Raphael. A year after the portrait was painted, Pope Julius II died, but remained forever in Raphael’s painting. Unique pope, patron of High Renaissance art.
20
Portrait of a Young Man (1513-1514)
Presumably this is Raphael’s self-portrait, as the young man’s face is very similar to the artist’s only confirmed self-portrait. A very handsome young man is sitting halfway to the viewer. His long brown hair slumped carelessly over his shoulders from beneath a famously worn beret. A confident look, the relaxed pose of a young man suggests that he knows his own worth.
During the Second World War, the Nazis stole this picture from the estate of Princes Czartoryski (Poland) and hid it in an unknown place. For a long time she was considered lost. Only many years later, the Polish government confirmed that the painting is safe in a private collection.
Afterword
The work of Raphael Santi is a world heritage of mankind. This ingenious creator of the Great Renaissance gave us, his descendants, unique and beautiful examples of painting. He was revered by his contemporaries who, after the artist’s death, wrote on his tombstone that during his life nature was afraid to be defeated and afraid to die after his death.
It was a list of the most famous paintings by Raphael Santi according to most-beauty.ru. We will continue to delight you with our vision of the best works of great masters. We only expect objective criticism from you, as well as wishes and your thoughts regarding the work of Santi and other artists.