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What was Raphael's contribution to the Renaissance

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Raphael fell gravely ill and died on Good Friday 1517, which many believe was also the date of his birth. He may have died of overwork, but given the unhealthy environment of Rome, he could have fallen to an infectious disease. In his will, he left most of his estate to his beloved Margarita. Raphael was buried in the Pantheon in Rome and is early death cut short the life of a remarkable artistic talent.
====Raphael’s influence on painting==Raphael had an enormous impact on the history of painting in the Renaissance. His work was very classical in style and in this regard it was similar to Michelangelo and Leonardo. However, he took painting in a new direction and he was prepared to show the emotional life of his subject. Previously artists had been reluctant to show emotions in a realistic way under the influence of classical art. Raphael was not afraid to portray his subjects in an emotionally realistic way and this made him very popular. In particular, it meant that he was a much-admired portraitist. His portraits are concerned among some of the finest that has ever been composed and influenced painters during the later Renaissance and even later. Raphael was not an innovator in painting techniques but perfected many techniques. This gave his works a very harmonious quality that was much admired and emulated. Raphael’s ‘sprezzatura' or naturalness was especially praised <ref>Piper, David.The Illustrated History of Art. 2004. Octopus Printing: UK) </ref>. Despite his great artistry, he was able to conceal it and nothing painted by him every appears to be contrived or forced. It is claimed that this naturalness and effortlessness was something that even the great Michelangelo envied. In some of Raphael’s works, such as his frescoes in the Vatican we can see the beginnings of a new school of painting. The Urbino artist’s, contrasts of light and dark, and use of dramatic colors inspired the development of the Mannerist School <ref>Piper, p 202</ref>. This was a movement that includes painters such as Tintoretto and influenced the work of El Greco. Raphael is considered to be one of the great religious painters in the Christian tradition of all time and his depictions of the crucifixion of Christ are considered to be masterpieces. However, it is his depictions of the Madonna, or Mary the mother of Jesus Christ that has been particularly admired. Raphael’s portrayal of the Madonna changed the course of religious art in the Renaissance and indeed to this day, the many representations of the Virgin Mary, show the mark of his influence. Raphael was enormously influential and was called the ‘Prince of Painters’ by the first art historian Giorgio Vasari <ref> Vasari, Giorgio (2000). Lives of the Painters (London, Penguin, 2000), p. 178</ref>. Raphael was not only influential in his own day but also later. His fame was eclipsed by others in the Baroque, but he was extremely popular in the 19th century and was widely emulated. ==
[[File: Raphael 3.jpg |200px|thumb|left|Portrait of Julius II]]
Raphael had an enormous impact on the history of painting during the Renaissance. His work was very classical in style, and in this regard, it was similar to Michelangelo and Leonardo. However, he took painting in a new direction, and he wanted to show the emotional life of his subject.
Previously, artists had been reluctant to show emotions realistically under the influence of classical art. Raphael was not afraid to portray his subjects in an emotionally realistic way, and this made him very popular. In particular, it meant that he was a much-admired portraitist. His portraits are considered to be among the finest that have ever been composed.  His techniques influenced painters both during the later Renaissance and afterward. Raphael was not necessarily an innovator, but he perfected various painting techniques. This skill gave his works a very harmonious quality that was much admired and emulated. Raphael’s ‘sprezzatura' or naturalness was especially praised.<ref>Piper, David.The Illustrated History of Art. 2004. Octopus Printing: UK) </ref> His naturalness and effortlessness was something that even the great Michelangelo envied.  In some of Raphael’s works, such as his frescoes in the Vatican, we can see the beginnings of a new school of painting. The Urbino artist’s, contrasts of light and dark, and use of dramatic colors inspired the development of the Mannerist School. <ref>Piper, p 202</ref>. This movement includes painters such as Tintoretto and even influenced the work of El Greco.  Raphael is considered to be one of the greatest religious painters in the Christian tradition of all time. His depictions of the crucifixion of Christ are considered to be masterpieces. However, it is his depictions of the Madonna, or Mary the mother of Jesus Christ that has been particularly admired.  Raphael’s portrayal of the Madonna changed the course of religious art in the Renaissance, and its influence extends to this day. Raphael was called the ‘Prince of Painters’ by the first art historian Giorgio Vasari. <ref> Vasari, Giorgio (2000). Lives of the Painters (London, Penguin, 2000), p. 178</ref> Others eclipsed his fame in the Baroque era, but he became extremely popular in the 19th century and was widely emulated. ====Raphael as an architect====In addition to being an extraordinary painter, Raphael was also an important a significant architect. He was appointed the chief architect of the Pope after the death of the great Donato Bramante (1440-1514). Raphael was to play played an important role in the creation of Rome as we now know it, today. His first successful design was a chapel in the Church of Saint Eligio degli Orefici. Perhaps his most important work was the chapel of Santa Maria del Popolo Chapel, which can still be seen in St Peter’s.  Raphael also designed several private villas and houses, but sadly none of these have survived, if they did, it is likely that his reputation as an architect would be higher. Raphael 's style owed much to Bramante, but he also incorporated many details and ornaments in his buildings. This encouraged other architects to design less austere and severe classical buildings, which was to become very became popular during the Late Renaissance .<ref>Vasari. p. 301</ref>.  ====Raphael and the emergence of reproductive artPrintmaking====Raphael was not a printmaker, but he worked with one of the first printmakers Marcantonio Raimondi. The artist produced the drawing and they were then engraved by Raimondi, who had them printed. Together they produced many of the best-known prints of the Italian Renaissance. The artist was one of the first to make prints of his work and he played an important role in the rise of reproductive art or prints. He had prints made of some of his most important works such as the Massacre of the Innocents. Raphael was an innovator and perhaps the first great artist to recognize the importance of prints in the Renaissance.
[[File: Raphael 4.jpg|200px|thumb|left|Raphael’s Sistine Madonna]]
Raphael was not a printmaker, but he worked with one of the first printmakers Marcantonio Raimondi. The artist produced the drawings and they were then engraved and printed by Raimondi. Together they produced many of the best-known prints of the Italian Renaissance. The artist was one of the first to make prints of his work and he played an important role in the rise of reproductive art or prints. He had prints made of some of his most important works such as the Massacre of the Innocents. Raphael was an innovator and perhaps the first great artist to recognize the importance of prints in the Renaissance.
 
====Raphael and the conceptualization of modern art====
In the Middle Ages, painters and other artists were only regarded as craft persons or manual workers. They had little or no social status. The Renaissance changed this and led to the modern conception of the artists. Artists became people who were seen as gifted and capable of producing beautiful works art that offered profound insights.<ref>Burckhardt, J The culture of the civilization of the Italian Renaissance (Penguin, London, 1995), p 34</ref> During the Renaissance, painters and others attained a new status and rank. Raphael was one of the first to be regarded in this light.
 
Unlike his predecessors, he was famous and was a well-known personality in Rome. He was something of a celebrity in Rome during his life. Moreover, he was a close friend with the power brokers of Rome. At one time, it was even proposed that he be appointed a Cardinal. Raphael was a charismatic and attractive character, and he did much to redefine the role of the artist in Renaissance society.<ref>Vasari. p. 301</ref> He demonstrated that the visual arts, such as painting, could be extraordinary. Raphael showed that the paintings could deal with serious subjects and provide a unique experience. While in his religious paintings, he demonstrated that art could be uplifting. The Urbino born artist helped to change the way that people experienced art.
 
====Conclusion====
Raphael was a true Renaissance man and remained one of the most popular of all the artists from that period. He is synonymous with grace and elegance. Raphael was a remarkable painter, and he produced several masterpieces. His mastery of technique and his emotional depth of his art was revolutionary.
 
He was possibly the most decisive influence on the painting of the Later Renaissance, while he changed the nature of religious art and portraiture. Raphael was also an innovator, and he was a pioneer in prints, an exceptional architect, and was one of the first who sought to preserve the built heritage of Rome. His life and work were crucial in the emergence of the modern conception of the artist.
==Raphael and the conceptualization of modern art==
In the Middle Ages, painters and other artists were only regarded as craft persons or manual workers and had little or no social status. The Renaissance changed all this and led to the modern conception of the artists, that is someone who is gifted and can produce beautiful works that offer profound insights <ref> Burckhardt, J The culture of the civilization of the Italian Renaissance (Penguin, London, 1995), p 34</ref>. During the Renaissance painters and others attained a new status and rank. Raphael was one of the first to be regarded in this light. Unlike his predecessors, he was famous and was a well-known personality in Rome. He was indeed something of a celebrity, in his time. Moreover, he was a close friend of the great and the powerful. At one time it was even proposed that he be appointed a Cardinal and became a confidant of Pope Julius II. Raphael was a charismatic and attractive character and he did much to redefine the role of the artist in Renaissance society<ref>Vasari. p. 301</ref>. He was to demonstrate that the visual arts, such as painting were superior to the crafts. Raphael in works such as the School of Athens showed that the painting could deal with serious subjects and provide a unique experience. While in his religious paintings he demonstrated that art could be uplifting. The Urbino born artist helped to change the way that people experienced art. Raphael played a very important role in the conception of what is the nature of art and its value to society.
==Conclusion==
Raphael was a true Renaissance man and remains one of the most popular of all the artists, from that period. He is synonymous with grace and elegance. Today, he is not as highly regarded and other artists such as Titian are even regarded as his superior. Yet Raphael was a great painter and he produced many masterpieces. His mastery of technique and his emotional realism was revolutionary and changed the history of Renaissance art. He was possibly the most decisive influence on the painting of the Later Renaissance, while he changed the nature of religious art and portraiture. Raphael was also an innovator and he was a pioneer in prints, a fine architect and was one of the first who sought to preserve the built heritage of Rome. His life and work were crucial in the emergence of the modern idea of the artist and the nature of art.
==Further Reading==
Goffen, Rona. [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0300094345/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0300094345&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=3f2bf923e93816264dd096984d099705 Renaissance Rivals: Michelangelo, Leonardo, Raphael, Titian. ] (Yale University Press, Yale, 2002).
Liebert, Robert S. "Raphael, Michelangelo, Sebastiano: High Renaissance Rivalry." Source: Notes in the History of Art 3, no. 2 (1984): 60-68.
Hall, Marcia, and Marcia B. Hall, eds. [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/052180809X/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=052180809X&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=bac558e7293601303aaed02cad0f298b The Cambridge Companion to Raphael]. Cambridge University Press, 2005. ====References====<references/>
==References==[[Category:Wikis]] [[Category:Renaissance History]] [[Category:European History]] [[Category:Art History]]

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