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Raphael and Urbino
A life-long relationship: that of Raffaello Sanzio and his city of birth.
The close bond between between Urbino and one of the city's most illustrious citizens, the great renaissance master Raphael, is the main theme of the exhibition "Raffaello e Urbino", on show at the Palazzo Ducale until July 12th 2009. The exhibition places particular emphasis on the painter's formative years, a period in which 20 of the paintings and 19 of the drawings on show were produced.
These early masterpieces, by an artist justly consider enfant prodige are, for the first time, exhibited alongside those of his father, Giovanni Santi, from whom Raphael inherited both studio and talent. In addition to that of his father, the influence of other painters fundamental to the artist's development are examined, such as Perugino, Signorelli and Pinturicchio. Among Raphael's early works we find the splendid Città del Castello banner, and a particularly poignant Saint Catherine of Urbino.
In its investigation of the relationship between Raphael and his city of birth, the exhibition casts serious doubt on the credibility of Vasari's biography of the artist, which described the young Raphael as apprentice in the studio of Perugino. In reality, Raphael obtained his training in his father's large and flourishing workshop, immersed in the cultural context of the Court of Urbino which, in the second half of the 15th century, even rivaled that of Florence.
The exhibition includes a quantity of previously unseen documents illustrating the creative environment in which Raphael grew up, and the artistic and economic links which he maintained with Urbino throughout his life, thanks also to the presence in the city of Bramante, an artist who was to be of fundamental importance for Raphael's future career in Rome. The section of the exhibition dedicated to the influence of Raphael on the city's majolica, the manufacture of which was once the Dukedom of Urbino's most important industry, features a piece based on an original design by the artist, on display to the general public for the first time ever.
April 4th - July 12th 2009
Galleria Nazionale delle Marche
Palazzo Ducale di Urbino
Opening hours: Tuesday - Sunday 8.30-19.15 - Monday 8.30 - 14.00
www.raffaelloeurbino.it
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