Raphael
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Until the recent nineteenth century, Raffaello Sanzio's works represented the paradigm of great art for the western civilization. Raphael was best known for the clarity of form and ease of composition in his most admired work. His paintings served as the Neoplatonic idea of the human magnificence. His work in its entirety signified classicism, idealization, and naturalism to create a skilled Renaissance style. Giorgio Vasari, a sixteenth century biographer, described him as "an artist as talented as was gracious," possessed of unbounded "grace, industry, looks, modesty, and excellence of character (Living with Art)."
Raphael established his reputation early in his career and since then never lacked patrons. He became the sort of artist "who charms everybody and to whom success comes as naturally as breathing." (Living with Art) He received his first art training from his father, Giovanni Santi, who taught him modern painting techniques as well as humanist intellectual concerns. By twenty-one he had left home to study under other artists such as Michelangelo and Leonardo whom led him to develop a grandiose, powerful approach. From them he also learned the Florentine approach of building up composition in depth with pyramidal figure masses...