Raphael Sanzio da Urbino
The Young Artist
Raphael's Early Life
Raphael Sanzio was born on either March 28, 1483 or April 26, 1483 in Marche, Italy. He was born to Magia and Giovanni Santi. When Raphael eight years old his mother died followed by his father at age eleven.
Raphael spent most of his life at an orphanage after his parents death. Later his uncle Bartolomeo, a priest claimed his and became his guardian. Soon after he went back to running his father's workshop with the help of his stepmother (Bartolomeo's wife). Raphael had a master by the name of Vasari and according to him Raphael had drawn an impressive self protrait of himself.
Pietro Perugino
Before the death of Giovanni Santi, he had placed Raphael under the apprenticeship of Pietro Perugino. Raphael worked and studied with Perugino about fine artistry and sculptures. Raphael worked with him until the year 1500. The Training that Raphael received clearly had showed in the work he was presenting to his master
Raphael's Art
Raphael had spent most of his time in Florence, Italy the art at the time that was taking place there was influencing Raphael's art especially the famous artist Leonardo Davinci. One style of painting in particular was copied from one of Leonardo's paintings by Raphael. It was the Madonna of the Meadow and its pyramidal composition. Raphael had created the Madonna of the Meadow using one of Leonardo's styles to recreate it. Raphael specialized in painting, making sculptures thanks to Florence, and drawing self portraits.
Patrons
For Raphael he never worried about getting any other patrons because two of his patrons were popes julius ll and his successor Leo X. A few popes received some of his artwork. As well as the city of Brussels which received his famous Raphael's Cartoons.
The Miraculous Draft of Fishes
The name of this painting i called the Miraculous Draft of Fishes. This piece was created in 1515 through 1516. This painting is located in the Royal Collection, its a place in UK which has collected many many important paintings, water colors, and drawings from many centuries. Its owned by The British Royal Family and has been held by them for many generations. This piece of art is significant because some new techniques of art were introduced such as the highlights made to show definition of the fisherman's clothing and their muscular arms and legs. He mixed colors to make a blue and grayish horizon in the background. Also that this piece was brought to a tapestry weaver, and the weaving brought out a little more definition in the clothing of the men to make it look almost realistic. Humanism definately played a role in this painting because of the use of colors he created to make dawn and the definition of the men as well as their clothing look somewhat realistic. That is the use of painting in a 3D effect like Brunelleschi.
Why I find the piece interesting.
This painting is interesting to me because it displayed a skill of art that most artists could not acheive at such young age. Raphael showcased his creation of the mixed colors to extend his range of color on his palette. The thing that intrigued me the most is the refections of the fisherman in the ocean that truly takes a pure amount of skill and practice to recreate an image into another object.
Work Cited
"Raphael." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 13 Nov. 2013. Web. 18 Nov. 2013. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raphael>.
"The Raphael Cartoons." Victoria and Albert Museum, Online Museum, Web Team, Webmaster@vam.ac.uk. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Nov. 2013. <http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/t/raphael-cartoons/>.
"Web Gallery of Art, Image Collection, Virtual Museum, Searchable Database of European Fine Arts (1000-1900)." Web Gallery of Art, Image Collection, Virtual Museum, Searchable Database of European Fine Arts (1000-1900). N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Nov. 2013. <http://www.wga.hu/frames-e.html?/html/r/raphael/6tapestr/2draught.html>.