Raphael Sanzio
1483-1520 · Italian (Urbino) · Italian High Renaissance
Known for: Master of graceful, harmonious paintings including The School of Athens and dozens of iconic Madonnas
Raphael was the golden boy of the High Renaissance - handsome, charming, prolific, and beloved by everyone from popes to peasants. His School of Athens in the Vatican is one of the most celebrated paintings ever made, a masterpiece of composition, perspective, and philosophical depth.
He ran a massive workshop with efficiency that rivaled a modern production studio, absorbing the best techniques of Leonardo and Michelangelo and synthesizing them into serene, accessible perfection. He died on his 37th birthday, possibly from fever, and all of Rome mourned.
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