Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino

Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino (1483–1520), known simply as Raphael, was one of the towering figures of the Italian High Renaissance, celebrated for the harmony, grace, and clarity of his compositions. Born in Urbino, he received his earliest training from his father, Giovanni Santi, and later studied under Pietro Perugino, whose influence is evident in Raphael’s balanced compositions and delicate handling of form. By the age of twenty, Raphael had already gained recognition as a master painter, producing altarpieces and Madonnas distinguished by their serenity and luminous color.

In 1508, Raphael was summoned to Rome by Pope Julius II, where he entered the most productive phase of his career. There, he painted the celebrated Stanze di Raffaello (Raphael Rooms) in the Vatican, including The School of Athens, a visual embodiment of Renaissance humanism and classical ideals. Raphael’s later work under Pope Leo X extended to grand religious commissions, portraiture, and architectural projects, including his role as chief architect of St. Peter’s Basilica. His ability to blend ideal beauty with human emotion made him the quintessential Renaissance artist—admired by contemporaries such as Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci, and emulated for centuries after his untimely death at the age of thirty-seven. His legacy endures as a symbol of balance, grace, and the intellectual spirit of the Renaissance.