Raphael was one of the most detailed portrait artists in all time, and is considered as the genius of the high renaissance. He worked for Pope Julius II where he led the decorations of the state rooms in the Vatican. Raphael was also the chief architect of Saint Peter’s Basilica. He was influential because of the things and the places he painted. The fact that Raphael’s genius was transferred to such lasting and public places as churches reveals how much his work was venerated at the time.
The way he depicted his subject matter was revolutionary. He put real and powerful emotions into the subjects of his paintings, which generally wasn’t done before this time. Raphael brought a new dimension into art: personality. In accordance with this, the way he depicted the Virgin Mary and baby Jesus in Sistine Madonna really shook things up. Traditionally, the faces of Mary and Jesus were serene, confident, and altogether content. However, Raphael put looks of worry and apprehension on their countenances. This led to the thought that Mary and Jesus were not in fact happy-go-lucky about their situation, but afraid of the impending crucifixion of Jesus.
Raphael was one of the first artists to use female models for initial sketches of paintings. Previously, males were used as models for the illustration of both sexes. This added to the realistic quality of Raphael’s paintings and set a precedent for later artists.
Raphael continued to influence artists into the 1900s. That says a lot about the magnitude of his genius and the impact that he had on the world of art and on the changing times of the Renaissance.
The way he depicted his subject matter was revolutionary. He put real and powerful emotions into the subjects of his paintings, which generally wasn’t done before this time. Raphael brought a new dimension into art: personality. In accordance with this, the way he depicted the Virgin Mary and baby Jesus in Sistine Madonna really shook things up. Traditionally, the faces of Mary and Jesus were serene, confident, and altogether content. However, Raphael put looks of worry and apprehension on their countenances. This led to the thought that Mary and Jesus were not in fact happy-go-lucky about their situation, but afraid of the impending crucifixion of Jesus.
Raphael was one of the first artists to use female models for initial sketches of paintings. Previously, males were used as models for the illustration of both sexes. This added to the realistic quality of Raphael’s paintings and set a precedent for later artists.
Raphael continued to influence artists into the 1900s. That says a lot about the magnitude of his genius and the impact that he had on the world of art and on the changing times of the Renaissance.