Raphael

The drawing titled Raphael is a 19th-century homage executed after the celebrated Renaissance master, Raffaello Sanzio, called Raphael Italian, 1483-1520. Classified simply as a drawing, this piece was rendered primarily in charcoal on cream wove card. Created in the period between 1800 and 1899, this work reflects the enduring admiration for Renaissance artistic standards prevalent during the 19th century in Europe, particularly within the artistic and cultural sphere of Italy.

Though the exact source material is not specified, this type of faithful reproduction was a staple of academic art training. The use of charcoal on wove card allows the unknown copyist to achieve deep contrasts and subtle tonal gradations, techniques essential to capturing the dramatic modeling and idealized forms characteristic of the High Renaissance style pioneered by 1483-1520. This work underlines the master's lasting influence, as the careful copying of his foundational works remained central to European art education long after his death. The focus on meticulous draftsmanship demonstrates the revivalist trends popular throughout the 1800s, where replicating classical forms was considered the height of technical skill.

This academic interpretation currently resides in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. As a 19th-century drawing referencing a canonical masterwork, it serves as a valuable document of art education history. The drawing’s origins in Italy underscore its cultural significance. Today, this work is often considered within the realm of the public domain, making high-quality prints and digital access widely available for continued study and appreciation of the rigorous technique applied in this historical drawing.