Raphael Biography: The Early Years

The date of Raphael’s birth is commonly debated. Giorgio Vasari, who wrote the biographies of many artists, claims that Raphael was born and died on Good Friday. In 1483, the year of his birth, this would have fallen on March 28, but in 1520, when he died, Good Friday was on April 6. However other biographies state that Raphael died on his 37th birthday. Since the date of his death is definite, this would place his birth on April 6, 1483, and so historians argue over which date of birth is true.

The place he was born, however, is not disputed. He was born and raised in the tiny town of Urbino, an artistic town which tended to focus more on literature than visual art. During his youth, his father, who was an amateur painter, taught him basic technique until his death when Raphael was still only 11. Since his mother had died several years earlier, this orphaned Raphael. He might have then been cared for by his stepmother and his paternal uncle, but some sources put him into the apprenticeship of Pietro Perugino as early as the age of 8. In any case, Raphael showed great promise under his master, developing a style almost identical to his, and completed his training in 1501, becoming a “master”.
 

Continue to Raphael Biography Part 2 - The Middle Years