Raphael Catalogue Paperback

Book of the Year & Winner of the Exhibition Catalogue category at the British Book Design and Production Awards 2005.

        Within little more than a decade Raffaello di Giovanni Santi (1483–1520) transformed himself from a master of provincial church decoration to one of the greatest painters who ever lived.

    This beautifully illustrated catalogue tells the story of his artistic journey from Urbino, where he was born, to the papal court in Rome, via the Central Italian cities of Città di Castello, Perugia, Siena and Florence.

    Following the dramatic evolution from his origins in Urbino and the early influences of his father, Giovanni Santi, and the famous Umbrian master Pietro Perugino. It explores his earliest works in Umbria and his studies in Florence under the influence of Leonardo and Michelangelo, concluding by investigating how and why Raphael's art flourished and changed so dramatically under the enlightened patronage of Pope Julius II in Rome.

    With beautiful colour illustrations of more than 90 of the artist's paintings and drawings, accompanied by detailed catalogue entries and informative essays by distinguished scholars, this book is destined to become a classic text on this revered Renaissance artist.     

Authors:
Hugo Chapman, Tom Henry and Carol Plazzotta
  With contributions from Arnold Nesselrath and Nicholas Penny.

      This book accompanied the first major exhibition of paintings and drawings by Raphael ever to be held in Britain, at the National Gallery, London, from October 20, 2004, to January 16, 2005.