Raphael

Raffaello Sanzio, known as Raphael, was born to Giovanni Santi and Magia di Battista Ciarla in Urbino, a cultural center under the rule of Federico da Montefeltro. His father was a court painter.

Raphael's mother, Magia, died, and his father, Giovanni Santi, remarried to Bernarda Canigiani. This significant personal loss marked a turning point in Raphael's early life.

Raphael began his apprenticeship with the renowned painter Pietro Perugino in Perugia, where he learned the techniques of Renaissance art and developed his early style.

Raphael moved to Florence, a hub of artistic innovation, where he studied the works of Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo, and began to establish his own independent career as a painter.

Raphael was invited to Rome by Pope Julius II to decorate the papal apartments in the Vatican. This marked the beginning of his most productive and renowned period as an artist.

Raphael completed the Stanza della Segnatura, one of his most celebrated works, featuring the iconic frescoes 'The School of Athens' and 'The Disputation of the Holy Sacrament.'

Following the death of Donato Bramante, Raphael was appointed as the chief architect of St. Peter's Basilica, a significant milestone in his career and a testament to his artistic and architectural prowess.

Raphael began work on the decoration of the Vatican Logge, a series of frescoes that became a major project and a significant contribution to the Vatican's artistic legacy.

Raphael became engaged to Maria Bibbiena, the niece of Cardinal Giulio de' Medici. However, the marriage was never consummated, and Maria died in 1520, shortly after Raphael's own death.

Raphael died on his 37th birthday, possibly due to a sudden illness. He was buried in the Pantheon, a testament to his status as one of the greatest artists of the High Renaissance.