Raphael, Painter and Architect in Rome

Raphael, Painter and Architect in Rome explores the life and work of Raphael during the period he spent in Rome from 1508 until his death in 1520. During this time, Raphael served as both a painter and an architect for popes Julius II and Leo X, as well as for other prestigious patrons.

Throughout his Roman period, Raphael’s painting style evolved significantly as he studied the works of Michelangelo, Sebastiano del Piombo, and the extensive array of ancient art and sculpture. It was in the Eternal City that Raphael first practiced architecture, designing buildings inspired by ancient models like the Pantheon, literary sources such as Vitruvius' treaty on architecture, and the innovative approaches of modern architects like Donato Bramante.

This guide provides essential, up-to-date information on all of Raphael's civil and religious buildings in Rome, as well as his frescoes and paintings found in churches and museums, whether originally created in the city or relocated there later.

AUTHORS: Francesco Benelli, an associate professor of History of Architecture at the University of Bologna, is noted for his publication The Architecture in Giotto's Paintings (Cambridge University Press, 2014). Silvia Ginzburg, a professor of Modern Art History at the University of Rome III, has contributed significantly to the study of the Carraccis, Raphael, and Vasari, and recently co-curated the exhibition Raphael and His Friends in Urbino (2019).

SELLING POINTS:

• Fully illustrated guide to Raphael's masterpieces in the Vatican, Rome's museums, galleries, and churches.
• Includes Raphael's architectural works and projects, such as those for St. Peter's.
• The texts are concise and current, reflecting the latest research and findings from recent conservation efforts.
• The book discusses "The Letter to Leo X," co-written by Raphael and Baldassar Castiglione, famed author of The Courtesan; it is one of the earliest texts advocating for the protection and preservation of ancient monuments.

The book is richly illustrated with 51 colour images and 2 black and white images.