Raffaelo Sanzio or Santi, known as Raphael
He was born in Urbino, in the Marches on March 28, 1483. He died in Rome on April 6, 1520.
Another one of those beings, like Mozart, Schubert and others, whose blinding genius left a mark on human history.
His father, Giovanni di Santa di Pietro, was a painter. As a small child, Raphael came to know about pigments, glue, binders and eggs.At the age of 11, he was an orphan and already brilliant.
He surfaced in Perugia in "Il Perugino's" studio, where he pursued his
training.
In 1504, Raphael was in Florence.
He painted his first masterpiece: the marvelous Palleoni Entombment
(Borghese Gallery). From that time on, he was famous. His compatriot,
Bramante, summoned him to Rome. This was in 1508. The years spent in Rome were
the years of Raphael's great maturity.
Popes Julius II and Leo X allowed him to accomplish an immense work: the former
entrusted him with the decoration of the 4 Stanze or
rooms of the Vatican; the latter, that of the Loges.
He was also in demand by the era's leading personalities: in 1514, he decorated
the Farnesina villa for Chigi, the banker (frescoes of The Triumph of
Galatea).
After Bramante's death, he was made the chief architect of Saint Peter's and
director of excavation of antiques. This did not prevent him from continuing to
create frescoes, paintings and portraits.
Showered with honors and favors, he enjoyed immense popularity. He deserved the
epithet of "divine" which was conferred upon him.
He died at the age of 37 of an attack of malaria.
