Raphael: From Urbino to Rome

by Hugo Chapman, Tom Henry, Carol Plazzotta

This magnificent book traces the dramatic evolution of Raphael’s style, from his earliest work as a competent master of provincial church decoration in Urbino to his later, masterful paintings in Rome. With beautiful color illustrations of more than 90 of the artist’s paintings and drawings, accompanied by detailed catalogue entries and informative essays by distinguished scholars, the book is destined to become a classic text on this revered Renaissance artist.
Included in the book are discussions of Raphael’s origins in Urbino, his earliest influences, and his first works for churches in Umbria and the Marches. The influence of Leonardo and Michelangelo on the young artist as well as the flourishing of his art under the enlightened patronage of Pope Julius II are also studied in detail. The book concludes with two short essays on Raphael’s great Vatican frescoes and with a look at the artist’s longstanding reputation and the presence of his work in many great British collections.

Genres: Art, Biography

320 pages, Hardcover

First published November 10, 2004

Reviews

[Ray LaManna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I conclude my yearlong study of Raphael on the 500th anniversary of his death (1520) with this excellent exhibition from 2005 from The National Gallery, London. The catalog covers Raphael's carer up until 1512 and his arrival in Rome. The color reproductions and commentary are excellent...as well as the essays which accompany the text.

[Illiterate · Rating 5 out of 5]

This catalogue is especially good on Raphael’s relationship to earlier artists. His Madonnas may be the greatest ever - elegant harmony, soft tone, idealized tenderness.

[Ernie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Raphael is the keystone of Western art, leading out of the Renaissance and into Mannerism and beyond. whether or not you think you "like" Raphael doesn't matter. your ability to appreciate what he's up to, does. to do that, you must look and look again. this big book lets you do that, and compare the prodigy to the older generation of Italian genius: Michaelangelo and Leonardo. really, the point of this book is to marvel at how exciting art was mid-15th to mid-16th centuries, and how nothing done subsequently is all that amazing, compared.
dead at 37 from too much love-making, Raphael had already done it all: redefined painting and practiced all its forms. just don't blame him for the "pre-Raphaelites" of 19th century England.

[Kylie Briggs · Rating 3 out of 5]

So it turns out I'm not a huge Raphael fan. The book has some interesting background info on Raphael but I didn't care for his work so I was less interested.