Raphael's masterpieces: a once-in-a-lifetime exhibition unveiled
Securing a Raphael for a major retrospective is no small feat. Carmen Bambach, the Metropolitan Museum of Art's curator, proved that tenacity – and five visits to the Louvre – can move mountains. After all, convincing the world's largest museum to part with its prized 'Alba Madonna' required a level of persistence rarely seen in the Art world, culminating in a personal visit from the Met’s director and CEO, Max Hollein.
A journey through time and collections
Eight years of intensive research, spanning over a dozen trips to Europe, culminated in “Raphael: Sublime Poetry,” a sweeping exhibition showcasing 237 paintings, drawings, tapestries, historical objects, and even a fresco fragment. These treasures, sourced from 60 collections globally, including the Prado, the Uffizi, and even the royal collection of King Charles III, rarely, if ever, leave their respective institutions. The sheer scope of the project underscores its significance – Hollein calls it a “once-in-a-lifetime event.”
Bambach’s ambition wasn't merely to assemble a collection of Raphael’s works, but to illuminate the context of his genius, highlighting pieces often overlooked through the centuries. Her goal was to remind viewers why Raphael was considered a master during his lifetime, revealing the influences and relationships that shaped his artistry.
Beyond style: exploring raphael's philosophy and business acumen
While previous scholarship has largely focused on Raphael’s stylistic evolution, this exhibition delves deeper. “We’re going deeper into the philosophy of the artist and encountering the person,” Bambach explains. It’s a portrait of Raphael as an entrepreneur, managing a large studio with remarkable efficiency and cultivating relationships with powerful patrons. She even noted, with a touch of wry amusement, “If Raphael lived in our time, he would have loved social media.”
The allure of old masters returns
The exhibition arrives at a moment when Old Masters are experiencing a resurgence in popularity, captivating both collectors and interior designers. J. Tomilson Hill, a renowned collector, observes that “Living with Old Masters is about filling the space with questions—about time, mortality, faith, power.” Designers like Adam Charlap Hyman have witnessed a growing interest in Old Master drawings, appreciating their ability to reveal the inner workings of an artist’s mind and display exceptional technique. The appeal, it seems, lies in witnessing the creative process itself – “People are interested in how stuff gets made,” says Charlap Hyman.
A glimpse into raphael’s process
To shed light on Raphael’s creative method, Bambach assembled a collection of sketches, including studies for his celebrated masterpieces. One, on loan from Vienna’s Albertina Museum, depicts the central figure of Diogenes in “The School of Athens,” a fresco housed within the Vatican’s Raphael Rooms. The sale of a preparatory sketch for the Sistine Chapel ceiling by Michelangelo earlier this year for a record $27.2 million further underscores the market’s appetite for these intimate glimpses into artistic creation.
Urbino: the cradle of raphael’s genius
Raphael’s artistic journey began in Urbino, a hilltop town steeped in classical architecture and cultural refinement. His father, the poet and court painter Giovanni Santi, played a crucial role in shaping his early life and providing access to Urbino’s elite circles. Bambach’s curation even includes three works by Giovanni Santi, and the exhibition displays an unfinished ode written by Raphael to the late Duke of Urbino, Federico da Montefeltro, a testament to his family’s legacy and the artistic atmosphere of his youth.
The exhibition also features a poignant reminder of Raphael’s personal history: his mother and sister died in childbirth, and a never-before-seen account book detailing their funeral expenses has been brought to the Met from Urbino, a somber yet deeply humanizing addition to the show. It's a tangible link to the artist's early loss and a testament to the enduring power of his Art.