Raphael, born Raffaello Sanzio on April 6, 1483, in Urbino, Italy, was a master painter and architect of the Italian High Renaissance. He is celebrated for his "Madonnas" and large figure compositions, particularly those in the Vatican. His "School of Athens" fresco in the Vatican's Stanza della Segnatura is one of the most famous and significant artworks of the Renaissance. Alongside Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo, Raphael is considered one of the trinity of master artists from that period.
Raphael's father, Giovanni Santi, a painter for the Duke of Urbino, provided his early training and introduced him to humanistic philosophy. Raphael likely furthered his training in the workshop of Pietro Perugino. His work is admired for its clarity, ease of composition, and visual representation of human grandeur. Besides painting, Raphael also worked as an architect and printmaker. Raphael died in Rome on April 6, 1520, and was interred in the Pantheon.
