Raphael: Sublime Poetry

By Carmen C. Bambach

Raphael (Raffaello di Giovanni Santi; 1483–1520) is unquestionably one of the most important artists of the Italian Renaissance. Despite living only thirty-seven years, he quickly emerged as a peer to both Leonardo and his avowed rival, Michelangelo. Raphael: Sublime Poetry spans his short but spectacular life and career, from his early training amid the culture of his native Urbino, through his prolific years in Florence, to his final, magnificent decade at the papal court in Rome. Though Raphael is best known for his meteoric success as a painter, draftsman, designer, and architect, this catalogue highlights his equal accomplishments as a humanist, antiquarian, and poet.

Carmen C. Bambach offers fresh perspectives on the beloved artist, reconsidering his well-known masterpieces and uncovering the importance of rarely seen treasures. The publication also sheds new light on Raphael's relationship with women by identifying previously unrecognized models for his portraits and discussing the agency of his female patrons. Bringing together more than 170 of Raphael's drawings, paintings, tapestries, and decorative arts from public and private collections around the world, this catalogue is rich in archival discoveries and firsthand technical analyses. Lavishly illustrated and meticulously researched, it is the definitive text on the artist's life, art, and enduring legacy.

Carmen C. Bambach is Marica F. and Jan T. Vilcek Curator, Department of Drawings and Prints, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.