C. L. Frommel - Abstract

Even more than most Renaissance artists Raphael was constantly searching for the secrets of the divine. His extraordinary capacities destined him to become the painter of Pope Julius II, perhaps the greatest patron of the Renaissance. After almost exclusively religious paintings Raphael devoted himself from the summer of 1508 until the beginning of 1513 to the decoration of the new apartment of the Pope, adapting their designs to the circumstances that gradually arose. After Julius’ death during the new pontificate Raphael is overloaded with great commissions of painting and architecture but could not find a patron in Leo X equally profound, inspiring and critical.