Raphael at the Vatican Picture Gallery
The Raphael paintings at the Vatican picture gallery were a highlight of our visit. Raphael (1483-1520) was a great Renaissance painter and architect. Unlike Michelangelo, he was handsome and popular with women, and a gifted speaker who charmed people. But overshadowed by Michelangelo and Da Vinci, he is called a genius born in the wrong era.
He died on his 37th birthday. There are several theories about his death: one says overeating, another says a venereal disease, which people guess because he was so popular. There is also a theory that he was poisoned or assassinated by those jealous of him.
His funeral mass was held at the Vatican, and before his coffin lay his painting “The Transfiguration.” The upper part shows Jesus ascending with Moses and Elijah, the middle shows Peter, John and James amazed at the sight, and the lower part shows the other nine disciples struggling to heal a possessed boy.
Raphael paintings have outstanding color, and the light and shadow feel especially natural. The top painting is said to be his greatest work before death, while the two below were painted in his teens or as a young man.
The work below is not by Raphael but Da Vinci’s “The Last Supper.” It was unusually dark, so the photo did not come out well. Influenced by The Da Vinci Code, it was one of the paintings where I looked closely at the figure next to Jesus.
This is one of the saints said to have written the Bible in a cave and healed a lion… I do not remember the name well… anyway, a photo taken in front of it.
Phew… we had walked around for so long that I was resting on a bench inside the museum.
Prices, hours and details in this post are from our visit in March 2008 and may have changed, so check the latest information before you go.