In commemoration of the five-hundredth anniversary of Raphael's premature death at age thirty-seven, this exhibition is part of a worldwide celebration. The National Gallery of Art is fortunate to have the most significant group of paintings by the master outside of Europe, four of which are on permanent display on the Main Floor of the West Building -- brilliant works and a must see visit! The Gallery's collection is also rich in drawings and prints by or directly related to Raphael.
Listen to CiaoDC Chat with Jonathan Bober, Curator of Prints and Drawings at the National Gallery of Art on Raphael and His Circle.
Join CiaoDC Private tour here on April 1, 11-1 pm. Registration is limited!
Born Raffaello Sanzio in 1483 in Urbino, Italy, Raphael is recognized by many as the first and foremost figure of the classical tradition in Western painting. His art, featuring balanced composition and idealized beauty, epitomizes the Italian Renaissance and was tremendously influential in his lifetime and after. Raphael moved to Florence at age twenty-one, and from 1508 on he worked in Rome. There he became the preferred artist of the city's leading patrons, including successive popes Julius II and Leo X, who commissioned Raphael to create frescoes and other works for the Vatican. During his later years in Rome, Raphael broadened his activity to create designs for other media, such as tapestries and prints.
Raphael and His Circle
On display Through June 14, 2020
The National Gallery of Art
West Building, Ground Floor
401 Constitution Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20565
