Paintings aren’t made in an artistic vacuum. Part of the purpose is to please a patron, donor or dealer. Examples from Leonardo, Raphael, Tintoretto.
Raphael
Superb portraits of a cardinal and the Pope, and several of his finest Madonnas, including one claimed by many to be the greatest painting in the world.
From Botticelli’s map of Dante’s ‘Inferno’ to Vermeer’s fine-detailed depictions of decorative wall hangings.
Three stunning frescoes in a whole room with painted walls and ceiling: the Disputa, School of Athens, and Parnassus. Perfection.
During this period spent mainly in Florence, he learned from the innovations of Leonardo da Vinci, who was there at the same time. Raphael’s own style emerges.
Some of his earliest independent paintings, including two wonderful pairs based on legend and contemporary literature.
At the time, Raphael was recognised as one of the most important artists in the whole Renaissance. Here’s his starting point, set by Giorgione, Perugino and others.
Look for series covering the life and paintings of Raphael, the Swedish Anders Zorn, Amedeo Modigliani, and articles on others with anniversaries this year.
The Umbrellas, a portrait of Julie Manet, three landscapes painted alongside Paul Cézanne near Aix – some of the best paintings from these years.
Extensive travelling, from Venice to Algeria, brought a varied range of landscapes, as his portraits and figurative work paid the bills.
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