Artist Response:Raphael Sanzio

"The Disputa"

The artist that I chose to look up for this project was Raphael Sanzio. Raphael was born in the town of Urbino,Italy on either March 28th or April 6 1483 (It seems that the day of his birth has been found but not the year).Although he died at the young age of 37, his artwork lived on,showing his different styles and works of beauty.Raphael was born during during the period of The Renaissance, working alongside Leonardo Di Vinci as well as his rival Michelangelo. Raphael has painted in not just one, but three different European styles of painting, from his own style to the traditional way of Florence to last years of life in Rome, where he meet his untimely death on April 6th,1520.
Raphael's works of art were highly celebrated and upon their incredible grace and soothing perfection.Many of his paintings were found and kept safe,from his paints and drawings to his large scale paintings inside the Vatican(The Pope's Palace). Of all the works of art that I've come across from Raphael, I was struck by his first masterpiece that he had worked on for the Pope in Rome,The Disputa.
The Disputa or Dispute is a scene that was painted on the walls of the Vatican by Raphael between 1509 and 1510.To me this picture show a argument between heaven and the people of earth,though it isn't really clear on what the dispute is about.I was able to recognize some figures from the Bible in this picture such as Jesus Christ,The Virgin Mary and John the Baptist,watching calmly from above.
What I like about the picture aside from the vivid colors and detail of the image is whats actually happening inside the picture.From what I understand it seems like us humans are praying and begging with heaven while Jesus,Mary and John attempt to keep to peace while the other people in heaven discuss the matter at hand. This picture captures the tension and emotion in the scene while giving it a strange sense of beauty as well,which is perplexing since this has to do with an dispute between the dead and the living.