Whose side are you on? Two great philosophers of antiquity, Plato and Aristotle, face off in this meeting of minds.
Raphael
Who gets the girl? This event may be sacred, but Raphael treats us to a very human performance.
Raphael, Marriage of the Virgin
With her twisting, spiraling body, this beautiful sea nymph embodies the complexity of High Renaissance movement.
Raphael, Galatea
Strike a pose! As Mary looks on, her elegant son strokes a goldfinch—but this isn’t child’s play.
Raphael, Madonna of the Goldfinch
This modest painting never feels cramped in its circular frame. For all her humility, Mary has a monumental grace.
Raphael, The Alba Madonna
No throne? With Raphael, beauty stands in for divinity, and nature itself becomes Mary’s domain.
Raphael, La belle jardinière (Madonna and Child ...
A florin for your thoughts, Pope. As the aging patron sits musing, he clenches his teeth and grips a handkerchief.
Raphael, Portrait of Pope Julius II
Raphael’s rich palette put the papacy in the red—as did Leo X. This Medici pope spent Church money with abandon.