2011 Artist Blog - Entry #21

Madonna with Beardless St. Joseph, Tempera on canvas, 28.5 in × 22.2 in

Self-portrait with a friend, Oil on canvas, 39 in × 33 in

I am not an art critic by any means, especially when it comes to the Great Masters and 2D art, but I'll do my best in trying to analyze what I see in the paintings of Raphael. He was a painter in the Italian High Renaissance era. Michelangelo along with Leonardo da Vinci lived in the same period as Raphael. Starting at an early age, his drawings (Raphael's self-portrait in particular which is best known) already had a potential of a master draftsman which is very impressive. Although he died at an early age of 37, he has produced a large number of oil paintings now scattered in museums all over the world. I had a really difficult time on which paintings of his to talk about because they are all done in the most professional manner. My analysis is going to sound pretty amateur, but I'll do my best in discussing what I am seeing. A painting under the title of "Madonna with Beardless St. Joseph" was created when Raphael was in his early twenties. The characters depicted are in the description. The painting was done with, what seems to me, a huge focus on light and rendering. The forms of Madonna and the baby are very soft, most likely reminiscent of the Renaissance time period. The style of his work is quite stylized with people portrayed being very idealistic, something an individual would not look like in real life. But I believe this was done on purpose as the work is of religious theme. Raphael's other paintings, especially portraits of different prominent Renaissance individuals, are much more naturalistic as can be clearly seen in "Self-portrait with a friend" painting also known as Double Portrait. Most of Raphael's paintings with religious theme are done with many high contrast colors (ex. Transfiguration) compared to the Double Portrait which is rendered with very few colors highlighting what the artist wanted us to focus on - the faces and their characteristics. The unprecedented talent of Raphael is appreciated by millions of people, for a good reason. Starting at a young age, he achieved much popularity and wealthy status through paintings that put us in awe. A true legendary artist whose works will live on for as long as the humanity lasts etched forever in the most prestigious and largest museums from all over the world. (word count - 393)

Transfiguration, oil on wood, 159 in × 109 in