The tragically short yet miraculous career of Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino, known simply as Raphael, is a wonder even to this day, as a dazzling new exhibition at the National Gallery in London reminds us.
Raphael was one of the most exalted artists of the High Renaissance—an archaeologist, architect, draftsman, poet, and painter of the highest order—and along with Michelangelo and Leonardo practically defined the era.
Loans from institutions the world over come together in this impressive showing, which tracks two decades of his career, from his time in Umbria, through his time marinating in the culture of Florence, and finally to his last years serving the Church in Rome.
See more works from the marvelous show below.
<img class="size-large wp-image-2095039" src="https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2022/04/X4997-A5-1024×1024.jpg" alt="Raphael,
The Virgin and Child with the Infant Saint John the Baptist (‘The Alba Madonna’) (ca. 1509-11). © Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington. ” width=”1024″ height=”1024″ srcset=”https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2022/04/X4997-A5-1024×1024.jpg 1024w, https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2022/04/X4997-A5-150×150.jpg 150w, https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2022/04/X4997-A5-300×300.jpg 300w, https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2022/04/X4997-A5-32×32.jpg 32w, https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2022/04/X4997-A5-50×50.jpg 50w, https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2022/04/X4997-A5-64×64.jpg 64w, https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2022/04/X4997-A5-96×96.jpg 96w, https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2022/04/X4997-A5-128×128.jpg 128w, https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2022/04/X4997-A5-256×256.jpg 256w, https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2022/04/X4997-A5-434×434.jpg 434w” sizes=”(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px”>
Raphael, The Virgin and Child with the Infant Saint John the Baptist (‘The Alba Madonna’) (ca. 1509-11). © Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington.
<img class="size-large wp-image-2095042" src="https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2022/04/N-6596-00-000025-A5-821×1024.jpg" alt="Raphael,
The Madonna of the Pinks (‘La Madonna dei Garofani’) (ca. 1506-7). © The National Gallery, London” width=”821″ height=”1024″ srcset=”https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2022/04/N-6596-00-000025-A5-821×1024.jpg 821w, https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2022/04/N-6596-00-000025-A5-241×300.jpg 241w, https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2022/04/N-6596-00-000025-A5-40×50.jpg 40w, https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2022/04/N-6596-00-000025-A5-1540×1920.jpg 1540w” sizes=”(max-width: 821px) 100vw, 821px”>
Raphael, The Madonna of the Pinks (‘La Madonna dei Garofani’) (ca. 1506-7). © The National Gallery, London
<img class="size-large wp-image-2095041" src="https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2022/04/X10083-A5-1016×1024.jpg" alt="Raphael,
Terranuova Madonna (1504-5). © Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Gemäldegalerie, Photo: Jörg P. Ander.” width=”1016″ height=”1024″ srcset=”https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2022/04/X10083-A5-1016×1024.jpg 1016w, https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2022/04/X10083-A5-150×150.jpg 150w, https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2022/04/X10083-A5-298×300.jpg 298w, https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2022/04/X10083-A5-32×32.jpg 32w, https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2022/04/X10083-A5-50×50.jpg 50w, https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2022/04/X10083-A5-64×64.jpg 64w, https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2022/04/X10083-A5-96×96.jpg 96w, https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2022/04/X10083-A5-128×128.jpg 128w” sizes=”(max-width: 1016px) 100vw, 1016px”>
Raphael, Terranuova Madonna (1504-5). © Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Gemäldegalerie, Photo: Jörg P. Ander.
<img class="size-large wp-image-2095043" src="https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2022/04/N-6480-00-000023-A5-1024×520.jpg" alt="Raphael,
Saint John the Baptist Preaching (1505). © The National Gallery, London” width=”1024″ height=”520″ srcset=”https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2022/04/N-6480-00-000023-A5-1024×520.jpg 1024w, https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2022/04/N-6480-00-000023-A5-300×152.jpg 300w, https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2022/04/N-6480-00-000023-A5-50×25.jpg 50w” sizes=”(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px”>
Raphael, Saint John the Baptist Preaching (1505). © The National Gallery, London
<img class="size-large wp-image-2095044" src="https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2022/04/N-0744-00-000034-A5-885×1024.jpg" alt="Raphael,
The Madonna and Child with the Infant Baptist (The Garvagh Madonna) (ca. 1509-10). © The National Gallery, London” width=”885″ height=”1024″ srcset=”https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2022/04/N-0744-00-000034-A5-885×1024.jpg 885w, https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2022/04/N-0744-00-000034-A5-259×300.jpg 259w, https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2022/04/N-0744-00-000034-A5-43×50.jpg 43w” sizes=”(max-width: 885px) 100vw, 885px”>
Raphael, The Madonna and Child with the Infant Baptist (The Garvagh Madonna) (ca. 1509-10). © The National Gallery, London
<img class="size-large wp-image-2095045" src="https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2022/04/N-3943-00-000068-A5-614×1024.jpg" alt="Raphael,
The Crucified Christ with the Virgin Mary, Saints and Angels (The Mond Crucifixion) (ca. 1502-3). © The National Gallery, London” width=”614″ height=”1024″ srcset=”https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2022/04/N-3943-00-000068-A5-614×1024.jpg 614w, https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2022/04/N-3943-00-000068-A5-180×300.jpg 180w, https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2022/04/N-3943-00-000068-A5-30×50.jpg 30w, https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2022/04/N-3943-00-000068-A5-1151×1920.jpg 1151w, https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2022/04/N-3943-00-000068-A5.jpg 1591w” sizes=”(max-width: 614px) 100vw, 614px”>
Raphael, The Crucified Christ with the Virgin Mary, Saints and Angels (The Mond Crucifixion) (ca. 1502-3). © The National Gallery, London
<img class="size-large wp-image-2095046" src="https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2022/04/N-2919-00-000024-A5-1024×291.jpg" alt="Raphael,
The Procession to Calvary (ca. 1504-5). © The National Gallery, London” width=”1024″ height=”291″ srcset=”https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2022/04/N-2919-00-000024-A5-1024×291.jpg 1024w, https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2022/04/N-2919-00-000024-A5-300×85.jpg 300w, https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2022/04/N-2919-00-000024-A5-50×14.jpg 50w” sizes=”(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px”>
Raphael, The Procession to Calvary (ca. 1504-5). © The National Gallery, London
Raphael, The Madonna and Child with Saint John the Baptist and Saint Nicholas of Bari (‘The Ansidei Madonna’), (1505). © The National Gallery, London
<img class="size-large wp-image-2095048" src="https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2022/04/N-0213-00-000032-A5-1010×1024.jpg" alt="Raphael,
An Allegory (‘Vision of a Knight’) (ca. 1504). © The National Gallery, London” width=”1010″ height=”1024″ srcset=”https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2022/04/N-0213-00-000032-A5-1010×1024.jpg 1010w, https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2022/04/N-0213-00-000032-A5-296×300.jpg 296w, https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2022/04/N-0213-00-000032-A5-32×32.jpg 32w, https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2022/04/N-0213-00-000032-A5-50×50.jpg 50w, https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2022/04/N-0213-00-000032-A5-64×64.jpg 64w, https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2022/04/N-0213-00-000032-A5-96×96.jpg 96w” sizes=”(max-width: 1010px) 100vw, 1010px”>
Raphael, An Allegory (‘Vision of a Knight’) (ca. 1504). © The National Gallery, London
Raphael, Portrait of Pope Julius II (1511). © The National Gallery, London.
Raphael, Saint Catherine of Alexandria (ca. 1507). © The National Gallery, London
<img class="size-large wp-image-2100080" src="https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2022/04/NONE.1558-A5-717×1024.jpg" alt="Raphael,
Virgin and Child with the Young Saint John the Baptist (The Esterházy Madonna) (ca. 1508). © Szépmuvészeti Múzeum – Museum of Fine Arts Budapest, 2020.” width=”717″ height=”1024″ srcset=”https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2022/04/NONE.1558-A5-717×1024.jpg 717w, https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2022/04/NONE.1558-A5-210×300.jpg 210w, https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2022/04/NONE.1558-A5-35×50.jpg 35w, https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2022/04/NONE.1558-A5-1345×1920.jpg 1345w” sizes=”(max-width: 717px) 100vw, 717px”>
Raphael, Virgin and Child with the Young Saint John the Baptist (The Esterházy Madonna) (ca. 1508). © Szépmuvészeti Múzeum – Museum of Fine Arts Budapest, 2020.
<img class="size-large wp-image-2100079" src="https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2022/04/X10347-A5-766×1024.jpg" alt="Raphael,
Study for the Head of an Apostle in the Transfiguration. © Private Collection. ” width=”766″ height=”1024″ srcset=”https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2022/04/X10347-A5-766×1024.jpg 766w, https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2022/04/X10347-A5-224×300.jpg 224w, https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2022/04/X10347-A5-37×50.jpg 37w, https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2022/04/X10347-A5-1436×1920.jpg 1436w” sizes=”(max-width: 766px) 100vw, 766px”>
Raphael, Study for the Head of an Apostle in the Transfiguration. © Private Collection.
<img class="size-large wp-image-2100078" src="https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2022/04/X10948-A5-867×1024.jpg" alt="Raphael,
Study for an angel (ca. 1515-16). © Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford.” width=”867″ height=”1024″ srcset=”https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2022/04/X10948-A5-867×1024.jpg 867w, https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2022/04/X10948-A5-254×300.jpg 254w, https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2022/04/X10948-A5-42×50.jpg 42w” sizes=”(max-width: 867px) 100vw, 867px”>
Raphael, Study for an angel (ca. 1515-16). © Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford.
Source: Exhibition - news.artnet.com
