Raphael

What it is

This is a book about Raphael written by Adolf Paul Oppé and published in London in 1909, with 200 illustrative plates. It traces Raphael's life in stages, from his early years and early pictures through a transition period covering his time in Perugia, Florence, and Urbino.

Why it matters

The book is part of a long tradition of art historians trying to organise Raphael's career into clear chapters, tracking how his style and surroundings changed over his lifetime. It shows how early 20th-century scholars worked to make sense of a Renaissance master's development for modern readers.

Look closer

• Why might a biographer divide an artist's career into stages like "Early Years" and "Transition Period"?
• What can studying where an artist lived and worked, such as Perugia or Florence, tell us about their art?
• How might 200 plates of illustrations change the way a reader understands the text?