Raphael

Descriptive Essay # 115992

Art > Artists

Raphael

A biography of the life and work of the artist known as Raphael.

1,677 words () | 5 sources | MLA | 2009 United States

Paper Summary:

This paper examines how Raphael, born Rafaello Sanzio, was an important artist and architect that made a strong impact upon the Italian High Renaissance. He has been celebrated for the grace and soft style that he used to create the figures in his paintings, most famously his Madonna paintings. The paper looks at how Raphael's influences included his teacher Perugino as well as his contemporaries Michelangelo Buonarroti and Leonardo da Vinci and how his work has been admired for its clarity along with the ease of composition that he is able to achieve through his paintings. The paper contends that Raphael's artistic accomplishments have made him one of the most prolific artists of all time.

From the Paper:

"Raphael's artistic development was consistent with the ideals of High Renaissance art. Although he was clearly influenced by Michelangelo Buonarroti and Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael had his own unique style. "His early works demonstrate his mastery of foreshortening, a technique that he learned from his teacher Perugino" (Bruce 346). He was also skilled at perspective techniques that allowed him to dictate how the viewer would experience his works. His style would become modified during the four years that he spent in Florence from 1504 to 1508. During his visit, he would discover that the styles that he learned from Perugino were out of date. He was also likely influenced by the artistic battle that was taken place between archrivals Michelangelo and Leonardo during this period. "

Sample of Sources Used:

Bell, Daniel Orth. "New Identifications in Raphael's 'School of Athens.'." The Art Bulletin 77.4 (1995): 638+.
Bruce, Donald. "Raphael at the National Gallery." Contemporary Review Dec. 2004: 346+.
Fischel, Oskar. Raphael. Trans. Bernard Rackham. Vol. 1. London: Kegan Paul, 1948.
Middeldorf, Ulrich. Raphael's Drawings. New York: H. Bittner, 1945.
Wanscher, Vilhelm. Raffaello Santi Da Urbino: His Life and Works. London: Ernest Benn, 1926.