Rafael da Urbino

What it is

This is the biography of Raphael written by Giorgio Vasari in 1550, part of his famous collection of artists' lives. It was written roughly three decades after Raphael died, in the original Italian.

Why it matters

Vasari's account is one of the earliest and most influential descriptions of Raphael's character and talent, praising his grace and skill. It helped establish the lasting image of Raphael as one of the greatest artists of the Renaissance, alongside figures like Michelangelo, who is mentioned in the text.

Look closer

• Vasari praises Raphael's modesty and grace — why might a biographer choose to highlight these qualities?
• What does it mean that Vasari wrote this thirty years after Raphael's death, rather than during his life?
• How might comparing Raphael to Michelangelo, as Vasari does, shape how readers see both artists?