Detail from The Garvagh Madonna
(Picture: The National Gallery, London)There are relatively few artists whose greatness was recognised in their own day and whose standing has remained unaltered ever since: Raphael is one.
Georgio Vasari, the painter-biographer who tells us most of what we know about him, observed that “When this noble craftsman died, the art of painting might well have died also, seeing that when he closed his eyes, she was left as it were blind… For in truth we have from him art, colouring, and invention harmonised and brought to such a pitch of perfection as could scarcely be hoped for; nor may any intellect ever think to surpass him.”
