Raphael Oil Painting Reproductions

Renaissance Oil Paintings by the Famous Artist Raphael

Famous for his Renaissance oil paintings, Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino, known as Raphael, was born on April 6th, 1483, in Urbino, Italy. 

He was the son of Giovanni Santi di Pietro and Magia di Battista di Nicola Ciarla and spent his early years in the city of Urbino. It was a cultural and creative center with a remarkable historical legacy and the perfect place for aspiring young artists. Raphael’s father, Giovani Santi, painted for the Duke of Urbino and owned a successful studio in the city's heart. He introduced the young artist to the principles of Classical Art.

In 1494, when he was just 11, Raphael's father died. In an astounding development, the young Raphael took on the management of his father’s art studio. His skill and reputation quickly surpassed his father’s, with local artists and patrons becoming aware of his talent.

Who is Raphael, The Renaissance Artist

In 1550, the artist Perugino encouraged Raphael to visit him in Perugia and become his student. Perugia is a stunning town in the Umbria region of Italy, and while there, Raphael assisted Perugino with his many large-scale commissions. Perugino was influential in his early education, and the apprenticeship lasted four years.

After Raphael left Perugino’s apprenticeship in 1504, he moved to cosmopolitan Florence. He enjoyed the inspiring work of contemporary masters such as Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, and Fra Bartolomeo. Raphael never looked back, and the young artist was astounded by the depth of composition and skill in draftsmanship in Michaelangelo and Vinci's paintings. He consequently threw himself into studying their technique and developed his own more intricate and expressive personal style of religious art.

Despite infatuation with a young woman, a baker’s daughter named Margherita Luti, 1514 Raphael became engaged to Maria Bibbiena. Bibbiena was the niece of an influential cardinal and wealthy patron. It is likely that Raphael likely agreed to the marriage after some persuasion, although he continued to paint Margherita Luti throughout the period. Nevertheless, Raphael’s passion shines through, immortalizing Luti in La Donna Velata, translating as “the woman with the veil,” c1516, and La Fornarina, Italian for "female baker," c1518.

Sadly, Bibbiena died in 1520 before the marriage took place. Raphael may have subsequently married Margherita Luti, but this is unclear and remains speculation. His frescos for Villa Farnesina (commissioned by Chigi) certainly reflect the themes of love and marriage. Speculation led some to wonder whether the pair wed in secret.

The romance, cherubins, and bacchanalian excitement of works such as The Triumph of Galatea, part of the Villa Farnesina commission, underpin Raphael’s romantic infatuation with Margherita Luti Raphael continued to paint frescos and further architectural works throughout the late 1510s

Famous Paintings by Raphael

The young Raphael developed his style during the first few years of the 16th century, and his rapid progression is apparent in early religious oil paintings:

• St Sebastian 1501 - Held by the Accademia Carra in Bergamo, Italy.
• Madonna and Child with Book 1502 - On Display at the Norton Simon Museum
• The Agony in the Garden 1504 - Part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art collection of Renaissance paintings
• Madonna Solly - held by the Gemaldegalarie in Berlin
• Grande Madonna Cowper - National Gallery of Art, Washington
• Madonna of the Pinks- The National Gallery, London
• The Sistine Madonna c1512 - an oil painting also displayed at the Gemaldegalerie
• Two Cherubs from the Sistine Madonna - a detail from The Sistine Madonna, often referred to as 'Raphael's Angel painting.'
• Madonna of Meadow 1506- also known as The Madonna del Prato.
• Madonna of Goldfinch 1505 - also known as Madonna del Cardellino
• The School of Athens 1510 - Acknowledged as one of the most famous paintings by Raphael and a Renaissance masterpiece. The painting details mathematicians and philosophers of Ancient Greece. Renaissance artists Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo appear in the painting as Plato and Heraclitus.

Raphael painted many frescos at the Vatican in later years, employing multiple assistants and apprentices. He also continued experimenting with paintings of the Madonna. Raphael's Madonna paintings are genuinely stunning in their serenity and beauty, with Mary and the baby Jesus gazing directly from the canvas. In The Sistine Madonna 1912, they gracefully float amidst clouds, observed by two mischievous putti and cherubs below. Raphael's cherubs are Popular Painting reproductions.

Popular at this time, renaissance cherub paintings were usually naked chubby male children. Although previously associated with Cupid and the passions, by the early 16th century, they represented the sacred child, innocence, and the omnipresence of God. A seemingly small detail, Raphael’s curious putti at the bottom of the Sistine Madonna are now among the most reproduced images of all time.

Building on the work of Leonardo da Vinci in particular, the artist worked on a series of Madonna paintings. Raphael's stylistic progression is apparent through his Renaissance art. His experimentation with biblical themes led to religious paintings demonstrating Raphael’s intense attention to detail, vivid coloring, and endless ability to humanize this iconic subject.

Raphael's Patron, The Duke of Urbino

The Duke of Urbino, Federico de Montefeltro, remained an influential patron during this period. Raphael painted an intriguing early work, George and the Dragon c1505-6, to celebrate the Duke of Urbino’s Order of the Garter, awarded in 1504 by Henry VII of England. The award reflects the close ties between the two countries, prevailing during the early 16th century. Raphael's famous paintings of this era include the Triumph of Religion and the famed School of Athens. The latter oil painting touchingly reflects his father’s endeavors to introduce Raphael to humanistic scholarship back in Urbino.

His final painting was The Transfiguration 1516-20. Commissioned by Cardinal Giulio de Medici, it was a massive work on canvas. Destined for the altarpiece at the Narbonne Cathedral in France, it ultimately adorned Raphael’s coffin.

Religious Art by Raphael

After experimenting with paintings of the Madonna, Raphael developed Michelangelo’s Battle of Cascina in a painting of the entombment. Then, in 1508, he moved to Rome at the invitation of Pope Julius II. From this point onwards, Rome was a home away from home where Raphael toiled over his Vatican commissions, which resulted in a stunning series of frescoes.

Renaissance Art and Architecture

Raphael’s Renaissance oil paintings are well known but perhaps less well known because he also worked on architectural commissions. While at the Vatican, he met the banker Agostino Chigi. Chigi later became one of his most important lay patrons. As well as frescos, he tasked Raphael with designing the Chigi Chapel in the Santa Maria del Popolo church in 1513. The following year, Raphael took over from Bramante as the architectural commissioner of the new St Peter’s Basilica in Rome.

Later Life and Legacy

On April 6th, 1520, Raphael died suddenly and unexpectedly after a very short illness. His death coincided with his 37th birthday. The funeral procession was extensive and spread across Rome, with Raphael’s funeral mass held at the Vatican. One biographer described the “tears of the whole city” at Raphael’s death. The artist requested burial in the Pantheon alongside Maria Bibbiena. He also left a substantial amount of money to his beloved Margherita Luti. 

Raphael’s move from Classical styles to Renaissance Religious paintings influenced Baroque art across the continent. His harmonious Madonna and Child paintings continue to inspire artists today. Along with famous artists Da Vinci and Michelangelo, he is a true master of Renaissance art.

If you love Renaissance art, oil painting reproductions of Raphael’s famous religious paintings provide a good starting point.  

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