"Carrying the Cross" is one of Raphael's most tragic works. It conveys not only the moment of their life of Christ, described in religious sources, but also human emotions that the author so diligently conveyed. The feeling of grief, [...]

"Bridgewater Madonna" is part of a series of paintings by Raphael Santi dedicated to images of the Madonna. The legendary artist’s brush carefully painted the images of the Madonna, each time trying to find, “probe” that very ideal, mysterious and unattainable. The desire to portray [...]

Ceiling fresco, mosaic. Dimensions: 120 by 105 cm. Dated 1509-1511. Located in Stanza della Segnatura, Apostolic Palace, Vatican City. The said stanza – translated from Italian as room – is the Pope’s office […]

The great Italian artist Raphael Santi was left an orphan at an early age, but gained his first experience as a painter in the studio of his father, who painted at the court of the Duke of Urbino. Subsequently, in his work, Raphael was guided by the first [...]

The amazing time of the Renaissance gave birth to the stories of many brilliant sculptors and artists. It is noteworthy that talented people of that time they possessed precisely a versatile gift - painting, sculpture, graphic, and sometimes architectural. Raphael's genius is more […]

In the image you can clearly see how much Raphael was influenced by the work of another artist, Michelangelo. In the center of the canvas is a sacred group - the four evangelists are depicted by four beasts. In the center is the unclothed God the Father. His body […]

The work was painted in 1502-1503 for the Oddi altar. Interesting fact When creating this painting, the reason was that the artist did not independently determine the main components of the image. Moreover, his favorite religious theme in the early […]

All of Raphael's paintings are a vivid reflection of his subtle nature. From an early age he was endowed with a hardened work ethic and a desire for spiritual and pure beauty. Therefore, in his works he tirelessly conveyed the enchanting forms of lofty ideas. Perhaps that is why such a huge number of works were born under the master’s brush, which convey the perfection of the surrounding world and its ideals. Probably, none of the artists of the Renaissance so skillfully and deeply revived the subjects of their paintings. Just remember a real masterpiece of art of that time “ Sistine Madonna" The image of a unique, wonderful vision appears unshakably and desired before the viewer. It seems to descend from the bluish depths of heaven and envelop those around with its majestic and noble golden radiance. Mary descends solemnly and boldly, holding her baby in her arms. Such paintings by Raphael are a vivid reflection of his sublime feelings and pure sincere emotions. Monumental forms, clear silhouettes, balanced composition - this is the whole author, his aspirations for high ideals and perfection.

On his canvases, the master fell in love again with female beauty, graceful grandeur and the gentle charm of heroines. It’s not for nothing that he wrote at least two of his works “ Three Graces" And " Cupid and the Graces"dedicated to the beautiful goddesses of Roman mythology - the ancient Greek Charites. Their soft forms and rich lines embodied the most joyful, kind and bright beginning of all life. Raphael tirelessly drew inspiration from them. He purposefully depicted goddesses naked in order to bring each viewer closer to virgin and tender nature. high art. Perhaps that is why the rest of the artist’s works vividly display divine power, sensual beauty, inextricably linked with the ideals of the surrounding world.

Text: Ksusha Kors

Biography

The era of the High Renaissance in Italy gave the world great artists: Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael, Titian. Each of them embodied the spirit and ideals of the era in their work. The works of Leonardo clearly reflected cognitive purposefulness, the works of Michelangelo - the pathos and drama of the struggle for great perfection, Titian - cheerful free-thinking, Raphael glorifies the feelings of beauty and harmony.

Raphael (more precisely Raffaello Santi) was born April 6, 1483(according to other sources, March 28, 1483) in the family of the court artist and poet of the Duke of Urbino Giovanni Santi in the city of Urbino. Raphael's father was an educated man and it was he who instilled in his son a love of art. And Raphael received his first painting lessons from his father.

When Raphael was 8 years old, his mother died, and at the age of 11, after the death of his father, he was left an orphan.

The city of Urbino, where Raphael was born and raised, in the middle of the 15th century was a brilliant artistic center, a center of humanistic culture in Italy. Young artist could get acquainted with wonderful works of art in the churches and palaces of Urbino, and the beneficial atmosphere of beauty and art awakened imagination, dreams, and nurtured artistic taste. Biographers and researchers of Raphael's work suggest that for the next 5-6 years he studied painting with mediocre Urbino masters Evangelista di Piandimeleto and Timoteo Viti.

IN 1500 year, Rafael Santi moved to Perugia to continue his education in the workshop of the most important Umbrian painter, Pietro Perugino (Vannucci). Artistic style The contemplative and lyrical Perugino was close. First artistic compositions were performed by Raphael at the age of 17-19 " Three Graces», « Knight's Dream" and the famous " Madonna Conestabile" The theme of the Madonna is especially close to Raphael’s lyrical talent and it is no coincidence that it will remain one of the main ones in his work.

Raphael's Madonnas are usually depicted against the backdrop of landscapes, their faces breathing calm and love.

During the Peruginian period, the painter created the first monumental composition for the church - “ Mary's Betrothal", signifying new stage in his work. IN 1504 year Raphael moves to Florence. He lived in Florence for four years, occasionally traveling to Urbino, Perugia, and Bologna. In Florence, the artist becomes familiar with the artistic ideals of Renaissance art and becomes acquainted with the works of antiquity. At the same time, Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo worked in Florence, creating cardboards for battle scenes in the Palazzo Vecchiu.

Rafael studies antique art, makes sketches from the works of Donatello, from the compositions of Leonardo and Michelangelo. He draws a lot from life, depicts models naked, and strives to correctly convey the structure of the body, its movement, and plasticity. At the same time, he studies the laws of monumental composition.

Raphael's painting style is changing: it expresses plastic more strongly, forms are more generalized, compositions are more simple and strict. During this period of his work, the image of the Madonna becomes the main one. The fragile, dreamy Umbrian Madonnas were replaced by images of more earthly full-blooded ones, their inner world became more complex and emotionally rich.

Compositions depicting Madonnas and Children brought Raphael fame and popularity: “ Madonna del Granduca" (1505), " Madonna Tempi" (1508), " Madonna of Orleans», « Madonna Column" In each painting on this subject, the artist finds new nuances, artistic fantasies make them completely different, the images acquire greater freedom and movement. The landscapes surrounding the Mother of God are a world of serenity and idyll. This period of the painter, " Madonna artist" - the flowering of his lyrical talent.

The Florentine period of Raphael’s work ends with the monumental painting “ Entombment"(1507) and marks his transition to a monumental-heroic generalized style.

in autumn 1508 Raphael moves to Rome. At that time, at the invitation of Pope Julius II, the best architects, sculptors, and painters from all over Italy came to Rome. Scientists and humanists gathered around the papal court. Popes and powerful spiritual and secular rulers collected works of art and patronized science and the arts. In Rome, Raphael becomes a great master of monumental painting.

Pope Julius II commissioned Raphael to decorate the papal chambers in the Vatican Palace, the so-called stanzas (rooms), with paintings. Raphael worked on the frescoes of the Stanza for nine years - from 1508 to 1517. Raphael's frescoes became the embodiment of the humanistic dream of the Renaissance about the spiritual and physical perfection of man, his high calling and his creative potential. The themes of the frescoes that form a single cycle are the personification and glorification of Truth (Vero), Good, Good (Bene), Beauty, Beautiful (Bello). At the same time, these are, as it were, three interconnected spheres of human activity - intellectual, moral and aesthetic.

The theme of the fresco " Dispute» (« Dispute"") affirmation of the triumph of the highest truth (the truth of religious revelation), communion. On the opposite wall is the best fresco of the Vatican Stanzas, Raphael’s greatest creation “ Athens school ». « Athens school"symbolizes the rational search for truth by philosophy and science. IN " Athens school“The painter depicted a meeting of ancient thinkers and scientists.

Third fresco of Stanza della Segnatura " Parnassus“- the personification of the idea of Bello - Beauty, Beautiful. This fresco depicts Apollo surrounded by muses, inspiredly playing the viol; below are famous and anonymous poets, playwrights, prose writers, most of them ancient (Homer, Sappho, Alcaeus, Virgil, Dante, Petrarch...). Allegorical scene opposite " Parnassus", glorifies (Bene) Good, Good. This idea is personified by the figures of Wisdom, Measure and Strength, rhythmically united by the figures of little geniuses. Three of which symbolize virtues - Faith, Hope, Charity.

Raphael was engaged in monumental painting until the last years of his life. The surviving drawings of Raphael clearly reveal the originality creative method the artist, the preparation and implementation of the main task of the work. the main objective– this is the creation of a composition that is holistic and complete.

During his years of work in Rome, Raphael received many orders for portraits. The portraits he created are simple, strict in composition; the main, most significant, unique thing in a person’s appearance stands out: “ Portrait of a Cardinal», « Portrait of the writer Baldassare Castiglione"(Raphael's friend)…

And in Raphael’s easel paintings, the plot with the Madonna remains a constant theme: “ Madonna Alba" (1509), " Madonna in a chair"(1514-1515), altar paintings - " Madonna di Foligno"(1511-1512), " St. Cecilia"(1514).

The greatest creation of easel painting by Raphael " Sistine Madonna"(1513-1514). The royally majestic human intercessor descends to earth. The Madonna hugs little Christ to her, but her hugs are multi-meaning: they contain both love and parting - she gives him to people for suffering and torment. Madonna moves and is still. She remains in her sublime ideal world and goes to the earthly world. Mary eternally bears her son to people - the embodiment, symbol of the highest humanity, beauty and greatness of the sacrificial mother's love. Raphael created an image of the Mother of God that is understandable to everyone.

The last years of Raphael's life were devoted to different areas activities. IN 1514 year, he was appointed to supervise the construction of St. Peter's Cathedral, Supervising the progress of all construction and repair work in the Vatican. He created architectural designs for the Church of Sant'Eliggio degli Orefici (1509), Palazzo Pandolfini in Florence, and Villa Madama.

IN 1515-1516 years, together with his students, he created cardboards for carpets intended for decoration in holidays Sistine Chapel.

The last work is “ Transfiguration"(1518-1520) - performed with significant participation of students and was completed by them after the death of the master.

Raphael's painting reflected the style, aesthetics and worldview of the era, the era of the High Renaissance. Raphael was born to express the ideals of the Renaissance, the dream of a beautiful person and a beautiful world.

Raphael died at the age of 37 April 6, 1520. The great artist was buried with full honors in the Pantheon. Raphael remained the pride of Italy and all humanity for centuries.

Raphael was born in the city of Urbino in 1483 in the family of the artist Giovanni Santi. The atmosphere of the city and his father’s work predetermined the boy’s fate.

In the 15th century, Urbino was one of the most important cities in Italy, a major cultural center. Rulers of Urbino, Dukes of Montefeltro, - famous philanthropists and collectors, they realized the importance of education and enlightenment, loved mathematics, cartography, philosophy, appreciated art and patronized artists.

Giovanni Santi was a court painter and poet. In his father’s workshop, young Raphael learned the basics of painting, and as Giorgio Vasari notes in his “Biographies...”, “he helped his father paint the paintings that Giovanni created while living in Urbino.”

The boy was not even ten years old when he lost his parents and was sent (at the request of his father) to Perugia as an apprentice in the workshop of Pietro Perugino.

Raphael is a quick learner, he was barely 17 years old when he was already mentioned as an independent artist, creating works for his first customers. The artist’s self-portrait drawing dates back to this period. Very little time will pass, and Raphael will become an unsurpassed portrait painter, able to convey not only striking similarities, but also the individuality of his models with the help of color, light, and details. But for now Raphael is a modest student in the studio of a great artist.

2. Betrothal of the Virgin Mary, 1504
Pinacoteca Brera, Milan

Pietro Perugino, who became Raphael's teacher, is the star of the Umbrian school of painting, one of the most sought-after artists of his time. His style is melodic and poetic, pleasing to the eye and imbued with a special lyrical mood. Perugino's images are beautiful and sweet. It is characterized by decorativeness and balance. In an atmosphere of harmony and serenity - all of Perugino.

Raphael, subtle and perceptive, was so accurately able to capture the very essence of his teacher’s art that his first works could be mistaken for the masterpieces of the master Perugino.

In 1504, Raphael created The Betrothal of the Virgin Mary, to a few earlier picture Perugino wrote with the same plot (the wedding of Mary and Joseph).

Before us wedding ceremony: Joseph, in the presence of the priest, hands Mary a wedding ring.

Raphael, following the teacher, places the characters in an ideal space created according to the laws of linear perspective. Behind stands a majestic, also “ideal” temple. However, with “Betrothal,” the 21-year-old student surpasses his teacher in the art of depicting people. Look at the solemn statics of Perugino's characters and the variety of characters and movements in Raphael. Agree, Raphael's heroes are more like real people.

It is also extremely important that Raphael’s predecessors, who were fluent in the techniques of constructing perspective, lined up the characters as if in a line, both in the foreground and in the background. Raphael depicts those present at the wedding celebration more realistically, as a chaotic crowd.

It was “The Betrothal of the Virgin Mary” that became the result of training in the workshop of Pietro Perugino. The impetuous young man was already attracted by blooming Florence...

3. Self-portrait, 1506
Uffizi Gallery, Florence

Rumors are circulating in Italy that something extraordinary is happening in Florence. In the main hall of the city council building, Michelangelo and Leonardo compete in the art of frescoes. Rafael decides to be at the scene of the events.

In 1504, Raphael arrived in Florence, holding a letter of recommendation from his patroness, Giovanna Feltria della Rovere, to the ruler of the Florentine Republic, Pier Soderini. Imagine how Raphael goes to the Palazzo Vecchio and stops, amazed, in Piazza della Signoria. In front of him greatest work art - David, a sculpture of unprecedented beauty and skill. Raphael is amazed and can't wait to meet Michelangelo.

He will live in Florence for the next four years. This stage will be for him a time of hard work, discipline and close study of the art of Michelangelo and Leonardo. His was born unique style. Undoubtedly, Raphael would not have become Raphael without these difficult years of hard work.

Vasari would later write: “The techniques that he saw in the works of Leonardo and Michelangelo forced him to work even harder in order to extract from them unprecedented benefits for his art and his manner.”

The 23-year-old artist paints his self-portrait, still imbued with the lyrical features of Umbrian painting. This image will survive centuries. It is exactly this way, gentle, impetuous and eternally young, that Raphael will forever remain for posterity.

4. Portraits of Agnolo Doni and Maddalena Strozzi, 1506
Palazzo Pitti, Florence

A gentle disposition, impeccable manners and amazing ease of communication allowed Raphael to achieve the favor of influential patrons and wealthy customers, friendship with the most different people and popularity with women. He managed to win over even Michelangelo and Leonardo, each of whom nature endowed with a great gift and such a difficult character that many preferred to stay away from them.

One of Raphael's important clients during his Florentine period was Agnolo Doni, a wealthy textile merchant, philanthropist and art collector. In honor of his wedding with Maddalena Strozzi, he orders companion portrait. Only a few could afford such a luxury.

For Raphael the portrait painter, it was important not only the ability to convey external resemblance, but also character. One glance at the portrait of Agnolo Doni is enough, and it becomes clear that this is an influential and strong man, this is evidenced by both his imperious pose and his intelligent, calm look. He is dressed well and modestly, and does not strive for ostentatious luxury. Most likely, his interests are varied: he is attracted to trade, politics, art, literature, science. He is the embodiment of the ideal Renaissance man, but at the same time he is not a generalized collective image, but a living Florentine, recognizable by his contemporaries.

Raphael achieves the same effect in his portrayal of Maddalena Strozzi. On the one hand, before us is a rich city dweller, proud and arrogant, on the other - a young woman, a bride. The graceful tree is designed to emphasize the gentle character of the newlywed. The pendant on Maddalena’s neck, perhaps a wedding gift to Agnolo, also has a special meaning: gems indicate vitality, a large pearl - the purity and purity of the bride.

At this time, Raphael is looking for himself and his style; he is fascinated by the Mona Lisa, which Leonardo had recently completed. He gives his Maddalena a similar pose and enthusiastically searches for his own ways to fill the portrait with magnetism. Raphael would become a master of psychological portraiture, but later, during his heyday in Rome.

5. Mute (La Muta), 1507
National Gallery of Marche, Urbino

This intimate portrait is truly unusual. The artist does not give any obvious hints, and the fact that this is a woman deprived of the ability to speak follows only from the title. The most striking thing about this portrait is the feeling that comes from it. The heroine's muteness is felt in her facial expression, in her gaze, in her inactive, tightly compressed lips. This is Raphael's outstanding talent: he is not only familiar with the smallest features and shades of human nature, but is also able to accurately convey his knowledge and observations in the language of painting.

6. Madonna with the Goldfinch, 1507

Rafael lost his mother in early childhood. Subtle and vulnerable, all his life he felt an urgent need for maternal love and tenderness. And of course, this was reflected in his art. The Madonna and Child is one of the most important subjects for Raphael. He will constantly explore the relationship between mother and child. In Florence, over 4 years, he would paint more than 20 paintings on the theme “Madonna and Child.” From static, imbued with Perugino’s mood (such is his Madonna Granduca, which you can see at the exhibition in Pushkin Museum), to mature, filled with feelings and vitality.

One of these paintings is “Madonna with the Goldfinch.” Before us are the Virgin Mary, the baby Jesus and John the Baptist, handing him a goldfinch, a symbol of the Savior’s terrible trials.

A curious story is connected with the “Madonna of the Goldfinch”, told by Giorgio Vasari: “The greatest friendship connected Raphael and Lorenzo Nasi, for whom, having only just gotten married these days, he painted a painting depicting the infant Christ standing at the knees of the Mother of God, and the young St. John , cheerfully holding out the bird to him, to the greatest joy and to the greatest pleasure of both. Both of them form a group full of a kind of childish simplicity and at the same time deep feeling, not to mention the fact that they are so well done in color and so carefully drawn that they seem to be made of living flesh, and not made with paints and drawing. The same applies to the Mother of God with her blissful and truly divine expression on her face, and in general - the meadow, the oak grove, and everything else in this work in highest degree Wonderful. This painting was kept by Lorenzo Nasi during his lifetime with the greatest reverence, both in memory of Raphael, who was his closest friend, and for the sake of the dignity and perfection of the work itself, which, however, almost died on November 17, 1548, when the collapse of Mount San Giorgio Lorenzo's own house collapsed along with the neighboring houses. The son of the said Lorenzo and the greatest connoisseur of art, having discovered parts of the painting in the rubbish of the ruins, ordered them to be reunited as best as possible.”

7. School of Athens, 1509–1510
Apostolic Palace, Vatican

In 1508, Raphael arrives in Rome at the invitation of Pope Julius II and again finds himself in the center of incredible events: the great Michelangelo paints the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, Bramante, the chief papal architect, rebuilds St. Peter's Cathedral, and prominent artists of his time work in the Stanzas (the Pope's rooms) : Lorenzo Lotto, Peruzzi, Sodoma, Bramantino, as well former teacher Raphael, Pietro Perugino.

Rumors about the divine talent of the young artist also reached Julius II, who set out to decorate his reign at all costs. outstanding works art. Wanting to test Raphael, the Pope instructed him to take care of the room intended for his personal library. Having started work, Raphael so impressed Julius II that he ordered to expel all the artists working in other rooms, destroy the frescoes they had created and entrust the entire project to 25-year-old Raphael alone. Thus began the history of Raphael's Stanzas.

Most famous fresco is rightfully considered the “School of Athens”, which occupies the wall of the Stanza della Segnatura, reserved for the collection of books on philosophy.

“The School of Athens” is a mass stage, a gathering of philosophers, sages and learned men of all times in the Ideal Temple of Wisdom (the architectural space in which the characters are gathered echoes the project of St. Peter’s Cathedral, which at this very time is being built according to Bramante’s design). In the center of the fresco are Plato and Archimedes. The first points to the sky, expressing the essence of his idealistic philosophy with just one gesture, the second points to the earth, emphasizing the importance of natural sciences and knowledge.

In addition, the “School of Athens” is the meeting place of Diogenes, Socrates, Pythagoras, Heraclitus, Euclid, Epicurus, Zoroaster and other prominent figures.

It is also interesting that the three most important creators of the High Renaissance are also depicted at the meeting of the “School of Athens”. If you look closely, in Plato you will recognize Leonardo da Vinci, in the mighty Titan-Heraclitus, who sits on the steps, leaning on a block of marble - Michelangelo, look for Raphael himself second from the right in the first row.

Over the years of work on the Stanzas, Raphael becomes a celebrity, the brightest star of Rome. After Bramante's death, Raphael was appointed chief architect of St. Peter's Basilica and chief custodian of Roman antiquities. He is surrounded by patrons, customers, students, friends and beautiful women.

8. Portrait of Baldassare Castiglione, 1514–1515
Louvre, Paris

In Rome, Raphael paints a portrait of his friend and philanthropist Baldassare Castiglione. Look at this extraordinary face and imagine how far the artist’s current style is from the sweet style of Perugino, how cleverly the artist managed to melt down the techniques of Leonardo and Michelangelo, creating his own unique style!

Count Baldassare Castiglione - philosopher, poet, diplomat, one of the most educated people of his time. In addition, he was known for his gentleness, meekness and balance of character. It was these qualities, in the opinion of Raphael himself, that distinguished the ideal man of the Renaissance.

A friendly, slightly thoughtful mature man looks at us from the picture. He is dressed modestly, but with great taste. His face is calm and harmonious, his gaze is penetrating and open. Despite all its external simplicity, this portrait is endowed with special magnetism and psychological depth, comparable to the effect that the image of the Mona Lisa produces on viewers.

9. Fornarina, 1518–1519 (left)
Palazzo Barberini, Rome

The most talked about Raphael's personal life various rumors. According to some of them, the artist was a libertine and died at the age of 37 from syphilis, according to others, less scandalous, from fever. In any case, Raphael was constantly in the center of female attention, and one can only guess what kind of women of origin and occupation posed for the images of his gentle madonnas and nymphs.

For a long time, the identity of the black-eyed beauty from the Fornarina portrait was unknown. Vasari suggests that this is a portrait of “... a woman whom he loved very much until his death, and with whom he painted a portrait so beautiful that she was as if alive.”

A few years earlier, Fornarina posed for Raphael for another masterpiece, The Veiled Lady. If you look closely, the headdresses of both the Fornarina and the Veiled Lady are held together by the same hairpin, perhaps a gift from Raphael.

According to legend, Raphael met Fornarina, the daughter of a baker (fornarina - from Italian for “bakery”), while working on the frescoes of the Villa Farnesina. Then the beauty seemed to be getting married, but Rafael bought her from her father and settled her in the house, where he met her until death separated them. There were rumors that it was Fornarina who killed Raphael. They also said that after his death she went to a monastery out of grief, or that she led such a depraved lifestyle that she was forcibly tonsured a nun.

10. Sistine Madonna, 1513–1514
Gallery of Old Masters, Dresden

« I wanted to be forever a spectator of one painting...” wrote A. S. Pushkin about Raphael’s most famous Madonna.

It was in The Sistine Madonna that Raphael managed to reach the pinnacle of his mastery. This picture is amazing. The open curtain reveals to us a heavenly vision: surrounded by a divine glow, the Virgin Mary descends to people. She has the baby Jesus in her arms, her face shows tenderness and concern. It seems that everything in this picture: hundreds of angelic faces, and the respectful gesture of Saint Sixtus, and the humble figure of Saint Barbara, and the heavy curtain - were created so that we could not take our eyes off the face of the Madonna for a second.

And of course, Raphael would not be Raphael if the features of his Fornarina were not noticeable in the beautiful image of Mary.

Raphael died in Rome on April 6 (his birthday) 1520 at the age of 37 at the zenith of his fame.

Many centuries later, while studying the art of Raphael, Pablo Picasso would say: “If Leonardo promised us paradise, then Raphael gave it to us!”

Raphael (actually Raffaello Santi or Sanzio, Raffaello Santi, Sanzio) (March 26 or 28, 1483, Urbino - April 6, 1520, Rome), Italian painter and architect.

Raphael, son of the painter Giovanni Santi, early years spent in Urbino. In 1500-1504, Raphael, according to Vasari, studied with the artist Perugino in Perugia.

From 1504, Raphael worked in Florence, where he became acquainted with the works of Leonardo da Vinci and Fra Bartolommeo, and studied anatomy and scientific perspective.
Moving to Florence played a huge role in Raphael's creative development. Of primary importance for the artist was familiarity with the method of the great Leonardo da Vinci.
Following Leonardo, Raphael begins to work a lot from life, studying anatomy, mechanics of movements, complex poses and angles, looking for compact, rhythmically balanced compositional formulas.
The numerous images of Madonnas he created in Florence brought the young artist all-Italian fame.
Raphael received an invitation from Pope Julius II to Rome, where he was able to become more familiar with ancient monuments and took part in archaeological excavations. Having moved to Rome, the 26-year-old master receives the position of “artist of the Apostolic See” and the commission to paint the state chambers Vatican Palace, from 1514 he directed the construction of St. Peter's Cathedral, worked in the field of church and palace architecture, in 1515 he was appointed Commissioner of Antiquities, responsible for the study and protection of ancient monuments, archaeological excavations. Fulfilling the pope's order, Raphael created murals in the halls of the Vatican, glorifying the ideals of freedom and earthly happiness of man, the limitlessness of his physical and spiritual capabilities.

The painting “Madonna Conestabile” by Rafael Santi was created by the artist at the age of twenty.

In this painting, the young artist Raphael created his first remarkable embodiment of the image of the Madonna, which occupied an extremely important place in his art. The image of a young beautiful mother, generally so popular in Renaissance art, is especially close to Raphael, whose talent had a lot of softness and lyricism.

Unlike the masters of the 15th century, new qualities emerged in the painting of the young artist Raphael Santi, when the harmonious compositional structure does not fetter the images, but, on the contrary, is perceived as necessary condition the feeling of naturalness and freedom that they generate.

Holy family

1507-1508. Alte Pinakothek, Munich.

Painting by artist Raphael Santi “The Holy Family” by Canigiani.

The customer of the work is Domenico Canigianini from Florence. In the painting "Holy Family" great painter Raphael Santi depicted the Renaissance era in the classical key of biblical history - holy family- The Virgin Mary, Joseph, the baby Jesus Christ along with Saint Elizabeth and the baby John the Baptist.

However, only in Rome did Raphael overcome the dryness and some stiffness of his early portraits. It was in Rome that Raphael's brilliant talent as a portrait painter reached maturity.

In Raphael's "Madonnas" of the Roman period, his idyllic mood early works is replaced by the recreation of deeper human, maternal feelings, as Mary, full of dignity and spiritual purity, appears as the intercessor of humanity in the very famous work Raphael - “Sistine Madonna”.

The painting “The Sistine Madonna” by Raphael Santi was originally created by the great painter as an altar image for the church of San Sisto (St. Sixtus) in Piacenza.

In the painting, the artist depicts the Virgin Mary with the Christ Child, Pope Sixtus II and Saint Barbara. The painting “The Sistine Madonna” is one of the most famous works of world art.

How was the image of the Madonna created? Was there a real prototype for it? In this regard, a number of things are associated with the Dresden painting ancient legends. Researchers find similarities in the Madonna's facial features with the model of one of Raphael's female portraits - the so-called “Lady in the Veil”. But in resolving this issue, first of all, one should take into account the famous statement of Raphael himself from a letter to his friend Baldassare Castiglione that in creating the image of perfect female beauty he is guided by a certain idea, which arises on the basis of many impressions from the beauties the artist saw in life. In other words, the basis of the creative method of the painter Raphael Santi is the selection and synthesis of observations of reality.

In the last years of his life, Raphael was so overloaded with orders that he entrusted the execution of many of them to his students and assistants (Giulio Romano, Giovanni da Udine, Perino del Vaga, Francesco Penni and others), usually limiting himself to general supervision of the works.

Raphael had a huge influence on the subsequent development of Italian and European painting, becoming, along with the masters of antiquity, the highest example of artistic perfection. The art of Raphael, which had a huge influence on European painting The 16th-19th and, partly, 20th centuries, for centuries, retained the meaning of indisputable artistic authority and example for artists and viewers.

In the last years of his creative work, based on the artist’s drawings, his students created huge cardboards on biblical themes with episodes from the life of the apostles. Based on these cardboards, Brussels masters were supposed to create monumental tapestries that were intended to decorate the Sistine Chapel on holidays.

Paintings by Rafael Santi

The painting “Angel” by Raphael Santi was created by the artist at the age of 17-18 at the very beginning of the 16th century.

This gorgeous early work by the young artist is part or a fragment of the Baroncha altar, damaged by the earthquake of 1789. The altarpiece “Coronation of Blessed Nicholas of Tolentino, conqueror of Satan” was commissioned by Andrea Baronci for his home chapel in the church of San Agostinho in Citta de Castello. In addition to the fragment of the painting “Angel”, three more parts of the altar have been preserved: “The Most High Creator” and “ Holy Virgin Mary” in the Capodimonte Museum (Naples) and another fragment “Angel” in the Louvre (Paris).

The painting “Madonna Granduca” was painted by the artist Rafael Santi after moving to Florence.

The numerous images of Madonnas created by the young artist in Florence (“Madonna of Granduca”, “Madonna of the Goldfinch”, “Madonna of the Greens”, “Madonna with the Child Christ and John the Baptist” or “The Beautiful Gardener” and others) brought Raphael Santi all-Italian fame.

The painting “The Dream of a Knight” was painted by the artist Rafael Santi in the early years of his work.

The painting is from Borghese’s legacy, probably paired with another work by the artist, “The Three Graces.” These paintings - "The Dream of a Knight" and "The Three Graces" - are almost miniature in composition size.

The theme of “The Knight’s Dream” is a unique refraction of the ancient myth of Hercules at the crossroads between the allegorical embodiments of Valor and Pleasure. Near the young knight, depicted sleeping against the backdrop of a beautiful landscape, stand two young women. One of them, in formal attire, offers him a sword and a book, the other a branch with flowers.

In the painting “The Three Graces” the very compositional motif of three naked female figures is apparently borrowed from an antique cameo. And although there is still a lot of uncertainty in these works of the artist (“The Three Graces” and “The Dream of a Knight”), they attract with their naive charm and poetic purity. Already here some features inherent in Raphael’s talent were revealed - the poetry of images, a sense of rhythm and the soft melodiousness of lines.

The altarpiece “Madonna of Ansidei” by Raphael Santi was painted by the artist in Florence; the young painter was not yet 25 years old.

Unicorn, a mythical animal with the body of a bull, horse or goat and one long straight horn on its forehead.

The unicorn is a symbol of purity and virginity. According to legend, only an innocent girl can tame the ferocious unicorn. The painting “Lady with a Unicorn” was painted by Rafael Santi based on a mythological plot popular during the Renaissance and mannerism, which many artists used in their paintings.

The painting “Lady with a Unicorn” was badly damaged in the past, but has now been partially restored.

Painting by Raphael Santi “Madonna in Greenery” or “Mary and Child and John the Baptist”.

In Florence, Raphael created the Madonna cycle, indicating the onset of a new stage in his work. Belonging to the most famous of them, “Madonna of the Greens” (Vienna, Museum), “Madonna with the Goldfinch” (Uffizi) and “Madonna of the Gardener” (Louvre) represent a kind of variants of a common motif - the image of a young beautiful mother with the child Christ and little John the Baptist against the backdrop of a landscape. These are also variations of one theme - the theme of maternal love, bright and serene.

Altarpiece painting "Madonna di Foligno" by Raphael Santi.

In the 1510s, Raphael worked a lot in the field of altar composition. A number of his works of this kind, among which should be called the Madonna di Foligno, lead us to greatest creation his easel painting - “The Sistine Madonna”. This painting was created in 1515-1519 for the Church of St. Sixtus in Piacenza and is now in the Dresden Art Gallery.

The painting "Madonna di Foligno" in its own way compositional construction similar to the famous “Sistine Madonna”, with the only difference that in the painting “Madonna di Foligno” there is more characters and the image of the Madonna is distinguished by a peculiar internal isolation - her gaze is occupied with her child - the infant Christ.

The painting “Madonna del Impannata” by Rafael Santi was created by the great painter almost at the same time as the famous “Sistine Madonna”.

In the painting, the artist depicts the Virgin Mary with the children Christ and John the Baptist, Saint Elizabeth and Saint Catherine. The painting “Madonna del Impannata” testifies to the further improvement of the artist’s style, to the complication of images in comparison with the soft lyrical images of his Florentine Madonnas.

The mid-1510s were the time of Raphael's best portrait work.

Castiglione, Count Baldassare (Castiglione; 1478-1526) - Italian diplomat and writer. Born near Mantua, he served at various Italian courts, was the ambassador of the Duke of Urbino in the 1500s for Henry VII of England, and from 1507 in France for King Louis XII. In 1525, already at a fairly advanced age, he was sent by the papal nuncio to Spain.

In this portrait, Raphael showed himself to be an outstanding colorist, able to sense color in its complex shades and tonal transitions. The portrait of the Lady in the Veil differs from the portrait of Baldassare Castiglione in its remarkable coloristic qualities.

Researchers of the artist Raphael Santi and historians of Renaissance painting find models of this in the features portrait of a woman Raphael's resemblance to the face of the Virgin Mary in his famous painting "The Sistine Madonna".

Joanna of Aragon

1518 Louvre Museum, Paris.

The customer of the painting was Cardinal Bibbiena, writer and secretary to Pope Leo X; the painting was intended as a gift to the French king Francis I. The portrait was only begun by the artist, and it is not known for certain which of his students (Giulio Romano, Francesco Penni or Perino del Vaga) completed it.

Joanna of Aragon (? -1577) - daughter of the Neapolitan king Federigo (later deposed), wife of Ascanio, Prince Taliacosso, famous for her beauty.

The extraordinary beauty of Joan of Aragon was glorified by contemporary poets in a number of poetic dedications, the collection of which comprised an entire volume, published in Venice

The artist depicts in the painting classic version biblical chapter from the Revelation of John the Theologian or the Apocalypse.
“And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought against them, but they did not stand, and there was no longer a place for them in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that ancient serpent, called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world, he was cast out to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him...”

Frescoes by Raphael

The fresco by artist Raphael Santi “Adam and Eve” also has another name - “The Fall”.

The size of the fresco is 120 x 105 cm. Raphael painted the fresco “Adam and Eve” on the ceiling of the pontiff’s chambers.

The fresco by artist Raphael Santi “The School of Athens” also has another name - “Philosophical Conversations”. The size of the fresco, the length of the base is 770 cm. After moving to Rome in 1508, Raphael was entrusted with painting the pope's apartments - the so-called stanzas (that is, rooms), which include three rooms on the second floor of the Vatican Palace and the adjacent hall. The general ideological program of the fresco cycles in the stanzas, as conceived by the customers, was supposed to serve the glorification of authority catholic church and its head - the Roman high priest.

Along with allegorical and biblical images, individual frescoes depict episodes from the history of the papacy; some compositions include portrait images of Julius II and his successor Leo X.

The customer of the painting “The Triumph of Galatea” is Agostino Chigi, a banker from Siena; The fresco was painted by the artist in the banquet hall of the villa.

Raphael Santi's fresco "The Triumph of Galatea" depicts the beautiful Galatea swiftly moving through the waves on a shell drawn by dolphins, surrounded by newts and naiads.

In one of the first frescoes executed by Raphael, the “Disputation,” which depicts a conversation about the sacrament of communion, cult motifs were most prominent. The symbol of communion itself - the host (wafer) - is installed on the altar in the center of the composition. The action takes place on two planes - on earth and in heaven. Below, on a stepped dais, the church fathers, popes, prelates, clergy, elders and youths were located on both sides of the altar.

Among other participants here you can recognize Dante, Savonarola, and the pious monk-painter Fra Beato Angelico. Above the entire mass of figures in the lower part of the fresco, like a heavenly vision, the personification of the Trinity appears: God the Father, below him, in a halo of golden rays, is Christ with the Mother of God and John the Baptist, even lower, as if marking the geometric center of the fresco, is a dove in sphere, a symbol of the holy spirit, and on the sides the apostles are seated on floating clouds. And all this huge number of figures, with such a complex compositional design, is distributed with such skill that the fresco leaves an impression of amazing clarity and beauty.

Prophet Isaiah

1511-1512. San Agostinho, Rome.

Raphael's fresco depicts the great biblical prophet of the Old Testament at the moment of revelation of the coming of the Messiah. Isaiah (9th century BC), Hebrew prophet, zealous champion of the religion of Yahweh and denouncer of idolatry. The biblical Book of the Prophet Isaiah bears his name.

One of the four great Old Testament prophets. For Christians, Isaiah’s prophecy about the Messiah (Immanuel; ch. 7, 9 - “...behold, the Virgin will be with child and give birth to a Son, and they will call his name Immanuel”) is of particular significance. The memory of the prophet is revered in Orthodox Church 9 (May 22), in Catholic - July 6.

Frescoes and latest paintings Raphael

Very strong impression produces the fresco “The Deliverance of the Apostle Peter from Prison,” which depicts the miraculous release of the Apostle Peter from prison by an angel (an allusion to the release of Pope Leo X from French captivity when he was papal legate).

On the ceiling lamps of the papal apartments - Stanza della Segnatura, Raphael painted the frescoes “The Fall”, “The Victory of Apollo over Marsyas”, “Astronomy” and a fresco on the famous Old Testament story “The Judgment of Solomon”.
It is difficult to find any other artistic ensemble, which would give the impression of such figurative richness in terms of ideological and visual-decorative design as Raphael’s Vatican stanzas. Walls covered with multi-figure frescoes, vaulted ceilings with rich gilded decor, with fresco and mosaic inserts, floor beautiful pattern- all this could create the impression of overload, if not for the inherent overall plan Raphael Santi has a high degree of orderliness, which brings the necessary clarity and visibility to this complex artistic complex.

Until the last years of his life, Raphael paid great attention to monumental painting. One of the artist’s largest works was the painting of the Villa Farnesina, which belonged to the richest Roman banker Chigi.

In the early 1910s, Raphael painted the fresco “The Triumph of Galatea” in the main hall of this villa, which is one of his best works.

Myths about Princess Psyche tell about the desire human soul merge with love. For her indescribable beauty, people revered Psyche more than Aphrodite. According to one version, a jealous goddess sent her son, the deity of love Cupid, to arouse in the girl a passion for the ugliest of people, however, when he saw the beauty, the young man lost his head and forgot about his mother’s order. Having become the husband of Psyche, he did not allow her to look at him. She, burning with curiosity, lit a lamp at night and looked at her husband, not noticing a hot drop of oil falling on his skin, and Cupid disappeared. In the end, by the will of Zeus, the lovers united. Apuleius in Metamorphoses retells the myth of the romantic story of Cupid and Psyche; the journeys of the human soul, yearning to meet its love.

The painting depicts Fornarina, the lover of Rafael Santi, whose real name is Margherita Luti. Fornarina's real name was established by researcher Antonio Valeri, who discovered it in a manuscript from a Florentine library and in a list of nuns of a monastery, where the novice was identified as the widow of the artist Raphael.

Fornarina - legendary lover and Raphael's model, whose real name is Margherita Luti. According to many Renaissance art critics and historians of the artist’s work, Fornarina is depicted in two famous paintings by Rafael Santi - “Fornarina” and “The Veiled Lady.” It is also believed that Fornarina, in all likelihood, served as a model for the creation of the image of the Virgin Mary in the painting “ Sistine Madonna", as well as some other female images of Raphael.

Transfiguration of Christ

1519-1520. Pinacoteca Vatican, Rome.

The painting was originally created as an altarpiece for the Cathedral of Narbonne, commissioned by Cardinal Giulio Medici, Bishop of Narbonne. The contradictions of the last years of Raphael’s work were most reflected in the huge altar composition “The Transfiguration of Christ” - it was completed after Raphael’s death by Giulio Romano.

This picture is divided into two parts. The upper part shows the actual transformation - this more harmonious part of the picture was done by Raphael himself. Below are the apostles trying to heal a possessed boy

It was Raphael Santi’s altar painting “The Transfiguration of Christ” that became an indisputable model for academic painters for centuries.
Raphael died in 1520. His premature death was unexpected and made a deep impression on his contemporaries.

Rafael Santi deserves his place among greatest masters the era of the High Renaissance.

Raphael (actually Raffaello Santi or Sanzio, Raffaello Santi, Sanzio) (March 26 or 28, 1483, Urbino - April 6, 1520, Rome), Italian painter and architect.

Raphael, the son of the painter Giovanni Santi, spent his early years in Urbino. In 1500-1504, Raphael, according to Vasari, studied with the artist Perugino in Perugia.

From 1504, Raphael worked in Florence, where he became acquainted with the works of Leonardo da Vinci and Fra Bartolommeo, and studied anatomy and scientific perspective.
Moving to Florence played a huge role in Raphael's creative development. Of primary importance for the artist was familiarity with the method of the great Leonardo da Vinci.
Following Leonardo, Raphael begins to work a lot from life, studying anatomy, mechanics of movements, complex poses and angles, looking for compact, rhythmically balanced compositional formulas.
The numerous images of Madonnas he created in Florence brought the young artist all-Italian fame.
Raphael received an invitation from Pope Julius II to Rome, where he was able to become more familiar with ancient monuments and took part in archaeological excavations. Having moved to Rome, the 26-year-old master received the position of “artist of the Apostolic See” and the assignment to paint the state rooms of the Vatican Palace, from 1514 he directed the construction of St. Peter’s Cathedral, worked in the field of church and palace architecture, in 1515 he was appointed Commissioner of Antiquities, responsible for the study and protection of ancient monuments, archaeological excavations. Fulfilling the pope's order, Raphael created murals in the halls of the Vatican, glorifying the ideals of freedom and earthly happiness of man, the limitlessness of his physical and spiritual capabilities.

The painting “Madonna Conestabile” by Rafael Santi was created by the artist at the age of twenty.

Unlike the masters of the 15th century, new qualities emerged in the paintings of the young artist Raphael Santi, when a harmonious compositional structure does not constrain the images, but, on the contrary, is perceived as a necessary condition for the feeling of naturalness and freedom that they generate.

Holy family

1507-1508. Alte Pinakothek, Munich.

Painting by artist Raphael Santi “The Holy Family” by Canigiani.

The customer of the work is Domenico Canigianini from Florence. In the painting “The Holy Family”, the great Renaissance painter Raphael Santi depicted the Holy Family in the classical vein of biblical history - the Virgin Mary, Joseph, the baby Jesus Christ along with St. Elizabeth and the baby John the Baptist.

However, only in Rome did Raphael overcome the dryness and some stiffness of his early portraits. It was in Rome that Raphael's brilliant talent as a portrait painter reached maturity.

In Raphael’s “Madonnas” of the Roman period, the idyllic mood of his early works is replaced by the recreation of deeper human, maternal feelings, as Mary, full of dignity and spiritual purity, appears as the intercessor of humanity in Raphael’s most famous work - “The Sistine Madonna”.

The painting “The Sistine Madonna” by Raphael Santi was originally created by the great painter as an altar image for the church of San Sisto (St. Sixtus) in Piacenza.

In the painting, the artist depicts the Virgin Mary with the Christ Child, Pope Sixtus II and Saint Barbara. The painting “The Sistine Madonna” is one of the most famous works of world art.

How was the image of the Madonna created? Was there a real prototype for it? In this regard, a number of ancient legends are associated with the Dresden painting. Researchers find similarities in the Madonna's facial features with the model of one of Raphael's female portraits - the so-called “Lady in the Veil”. But in resolving this issue, first of all, one should take into account the famous statement of Raphael himself from a letter to his friend Baldassare Castiglione that in creating the image of perfect female beauty he is guided by a certain idea, which arises on the basis of many impressions from the beauties the artist saw in life. In other words, the basis of the creative method of the painter Raphael Santi is the selection and synthesis of observations of reality.

Raphael had a huge influence on the subsequent development of Italian and European painting, becoming, along with the masters of antiquity, the highest example of artistic perfection. The art of Raphael, which had a tremendous influence on European painting of the 16th-19th and, partly, 20th centuries, for centuries retained the meaning of indisputable artistic authority and model for artists and viewers.

Paintings by Rafael Santi

The painting “Angel” by Raphael Santi was created by the artist at the age of 17-18 at the very beginning of the 16th century.

This magnificent early work by the young artist is part or fragment of the Baroncha altarpiece, damaged by the 1789 earthquake. The altarpiece “Coronation of Blessed Nicholas of Tolentino, conqueror of Satan” was commissioned by Andrea Baronci for his home chapel in the church of San Agostinho in Citta de Castello. In addition to the fragment of the painting “Angel”, three more parts of the altar have been preserved: “The Most High Creator” and “The Blessed Virgin Mary” in the Capodimonte Museum (Naples) and another fragment “Angel” in the Louvre (Paris).

The painting “Madonna Granduca” was painted by the artist Rafael Santi after moving to Florence.

The painting “The Dream of a Knight” was painted by the artist Rafael Santi in the early years of his work.

The altarpiece “Madonna of Ansidei” by Raphael Santi was painted by the artist in Florence; the young painter was not yet 25 years old.

Unicorn, a mythical animal with the body of a bull, horse or goat and one long straight horn on its forehead.

The painting “Lady with a Unicorn” was badly damaged in the past, but has now been partially restored.

Painting by Raphael Santi “Madonna in Greenery” or “Mary and Child and John the Baptist”.

Altarpiece painting "Madonna di Foligno" by Raphael Santi.

In the 1510s, Raphael worked a lot in the field of altar composition. A number of his works of this kind, including the Madonna di Foligno, lead us to the greatest creation of his easel painting - the Sistine Madonna. This painting was created in 1515-1519 for the Church of St. Sixtus in Piacenza and is now in the Dresden Art Gallery.

The painting “Madonna di Foligno” in its compositional structure is similar to the famous “Sistine Madonna”, with the only difference that in the painting “Madonna di Foligno” there are more characters and the image of the Madonna is distinguished by a kind of internal isolation - her gaze is occupied with her child - the Christ Child .

The painting “Madonna del Impannata” by Rafael Santi was created by the great painter almost at the same time as the famous “Sistine Madonna”.

The mid-1510s were the time of Raphael's best portrait work.

Researchers of the work of the artist Raphael Santi and historians of Renaissance painting find in the features of the model of this female portrait of Raphael a resemblance to the face of the Virgin Mary in his famous painting “The Sistine Madonna.”

Joanna of Aragon

1518 Louvre Museum, Paris.

Joanna of Aragon (? -1577) - daughter of the Neapolitan king Federigo (later deposed), wife of Ascanio, Prince Taliacosso, famous for her beauty.

The extraordinary beauty of Joan of Aragon was glorified by contemporary poets in a number of poetic dedications, the collection of which comprised an entire volume, published in Venice

The artist’s painting depicts a classic version of the biblical chapter from the Revelation of John the Theologian or the Apocalypse.
“And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought against them, but they did not stand, and there was no longer a place for them in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that ancient serpent, called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world, he was cast out to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him...”

Frescoes by Raphael

The fresco by artist Raphael Santi “Adam and Eve” also has another name - “The Fall”.

The size of the fresco is 120 x 105 cm. Raphael painted the fresco “Adam and Eve” on the ceiling of the pontiff’s chambers.

The fresco by artist Raphael Santi “The School of Athens” also has another name - “Philosophical Conversations”. The size of the fresco, the length of the base is 770 cm. After moving to Rome in 1508, Raphael was entrusted with painting the pope's apartments - the so-called stanzas (that is, rooms), which include three rooms on the second floor of the Vatican Palace and the adjacent hall. The general ideological program of the fresco cycles in the stanzas, as conceived by the customers, was supposed to serve to glorify the authority of the Catholic Church and its head - the Roman high priest.

Along with allegorical and biblical images, individual frescoes depict episodes from the history of the papacy; some compositions include portrait images of Julius II and his successor Leo X.

The customer of the painting “The Triumph of Galatea” is Agostino Chigi, a banker from Siena; The fresco was painted by the artist in the banquet hall of the villa.

Raphael Santi's fresco "The Triumph of Galatea" depicts the beautiful Galatea swiftly moving through the waves on a shell drawn by dolphins, surrounded by newts and naiads.

Prophet Isaiah

1511-1512. San Agostinho, Rome.

Frescoes and last paintings of Raphael

The fresco “The Deliverance of the Apostle Peter from Prison,” which depicts the miraculous release of the Apostle Peter from prison by an angel (an allusion to the release of Pope Leo X from French captivity when he was papal legate), makes a very strong impression.

On the ceiling lamps of the papal apartments - Stanza della Segnatura, Raphael painted the frescoes “The Fall”, “The Victory of Apollo over Marsyas”, “Astronomy” and a fresco on the famous Old Testament story “The Judgment of Solomon”.
It is difficult to find in the history of art any other artistic ensemble that would give the impression of such figurative richness in terms of ideological and visual-decorative design as Raphael’s Vatican stanzas. Walls covered with multi-figure frescoes, vaulted ceilings with rich gilded decor, with fresco and mosaic inserts, a beautifully patterned floor - all this could create the impression of overload, if not for the high orderliness inherent in the general design of Raphael Santi, which brings to this complex artistic complex necessary clarity and visibility.

In the early 1910s, Raphael painted the fresco “The Triumph of Galatea” in the main hall of this villa, which is one of his best works.

Myths about Princess Psyche tell about the desire of the human soul to merge with love. For her indescribable beauty, people revered Psyche more than Aphrodite. According to one version, a jealous goddess sent her son, the deity of love Cupid, to arouse in the girl a passion for the ugliest of people, however, when he saw the beauty, the young man lost his head and forgot about his mother’s order. Having become the husband of Psyche, he did not allow her to look at him. She, burning with curiosity, lit a lamp at night and looked at her husband, not noticing a hot drop of oil falling on his skin, and Cupid disappeared. In the end, by the will of Zeus, the lovers united. Apuleius in Metamorphoses retells the myth of the romantic story of Cupid and Psyche; the journeys of the human soul, yearning to meet its love.

Fornarina is the legendary lover and model of Raphael, whose real name is Margherita Luti. According to many Renaissance art critics and historians of the artist’s work, Fornarina is depicted in two famous paintings by Rafael Santi - “Fornarina” and “The Veiled Lady.” It is also believed that Fornarina, in all likelihood, served as a model for the creation of the image of the Virgin Mary in the painting “The Sistine Madonna”, as well as some other female images of Raphael.