High Renaissance and Mannerism: Raphael

Raphael was a master painter of the High Renaissance. Raphael is most famously known for his paintings of madonna, balanced compositions and clarity of form. He is also well known for his many self-portraits which he etched and painted throughout his lifetime. Raphael proved to be a very skilled artist from an early age. We can see the influence of Leonardo Da Vinci in his work as we commonly see the use of sfumato and chiaroscuro.

One painting I particularly love by Raphael is the Madonna Del Prato. I love the calm, peaceful disposition of the scene, the softness of the skin and the pale blue sky that fades over the horizon. I think the composition is very pleasing and I also like the little details such as the flowers scattered over the field in the foreground. I like the contrast in colour between the Madonna’s clothes and the colours of the background and we can see the use of sfumato. I also like the way the angels appear to be more human like. Overall, I think this is a stunning piece painting.

Above is one of Raphael’s sketches, The Heads and Hands of Two Apostles. I wanted to include a drawing as well because I find his sketches very inspiring. Down below is just one of the many self portraits Raphael drew.

Works Cited:

“Raphael.” Encyclopaedia Brittanica , Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 28 May 2019, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Raphael-Italian-painter-and-architect/Move-to-Florence.

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