The working environment during early 1500’s Renaissance Rome could be compared to any modern emerging city of today. For, Pope Julius II was interested in both rebuilding and embellishing the Vatican. It was the place to be for journeymen of all trades or artists desirous of job procurements.

Raphael (1483-1520) was the only son born to a court painter and as a young child he was encouraged and supported by his father to develop his artistic skills. The young artist was building a successful painting career in Florence when in 1508 at the age of twenty-five he was commissioned by the Pope to fresco his private living chambers of the Vatican.

The young, charismatic Raphael soon was included along with Leonardo daVinci, Michelangelo, and Titian into the tight painting circle during the High Renaissance. You could say that this elite popular group of masters have been considered then and now as the “Fab Four”. His pleasing personality, exquisite manners and unequaled charm helped secure his position with wealthy patrons. After completing and proving himself with his first successful executed fresco for Pope Julius II, Raphael’s genius was demonstrated and his financial future secured. Soon the artist was in such demand that Raphael needed several studios and numerous assistants to help fulfill the never-ending contractual agreements. As his popularity grew among wealthy patrons his career advanced so much so that Raphael had only the time to draw the compositions in his studio and needed to rely on his many assistants to complete the frescos on site.

Raphael’s early painting techniques were sweet and rendered exquisitely, matching his personality; techniques most appreciated by his patrons. While the young artist from Florence was embellishing the Vatican walls to great acclaim and applause the Sistine Chapel was clouded in secrecy, painted without fan fare or support from fellow comrades. Up until this point in time Raphael was secure, and confident with his artistic abilities. However, once he viewed Michelangelo’s representation of the human figure he was soon influenced by the moody artist. He would forever question his earlier rendition of the human form and doubt his own talents. Rather than be flattered by the influence he had on the young artist, Michelangelo soon began to resent the obvious similarity between his rendered figures and those painted by Raphael.

The School of Athens was the first fresco painted and the most recognizable work by Raphael. The painting is as famous as the Sistine Chapel as both represent the High Renaissance. It was commissioned for the one wall of private library and living areas of Pope Julius II in the Vatican. After the success of this work the artist went on to completely embellish the remaining three walls of the room and became the head painter of the Vatican. Unfortunately, Raphael did not live as long as those he greatly admired, for he suffered an early death at the age of thirty-seven leaving behind vast amounts of sketches that were subsequently rendered by several of his hand picked assistants.

The Art Historian 2009