Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino, now generally known in English as Raphael, was an Italian painter and architect of the High Renaissance period in Italy. Together with the masters Michaelangelo and Leonardo Da Vinci, Raphael rounds out the traditional trinity of masters during that period. As we celebrate Raphael’s birthday today and his short life of 37 years, we are looking at some of his most seminal works and reflecting on what made his style and sensibilities unique, inspiring, and timeless.
#1: Beauty Is Found in Harmony, Not Perfection
When we allow life to happen without trying to control every outcome, we might begin to notice a new kind of harmony blossoming around us, more beautiful than anything we could have ever willed from our own intentions. Raphael didn’t obsess over the pursuit of flawlessness. Instead, he focused on finding the balance. His figures evoke serenity, are expertly proportioned, and therefore feel human, with faces that appear both ideal and approachable. (La Belle Jardinière, 1507)
