The third Renaissance man

By Olivia Weinberg

Raphael’s final years were so good that the Prado and the Louvre have dedicated a whole exhibition to them. He died at 37, still in his prime (Vasari reports that he overexerted himself with his mistress, caught a fever, and was given the wrong medicine). “Late Raphael” presents over 40 paintings and 30 drawings dating from 1513—the start of the pontificate of Leo X, who commissioned some of Raphael’s Vatican masterpieces—to his death in 1520.

Raffaello Sanzio is best known for his frescoes. Energetic, grand and packed with detail, they are some of the greatest works of art ever created. His paintings are a little less acclaimed, but they have a sharp intelligence and a rare clarity. “Portrait of Baldassare Castiglione” is a fine example: a classic Renaissance portrait, done by the book, but strikingly modern in its simplicity. An ambassador and friend of the artist, Castiglione has a gaze that stays with you. His expression is gentle, the mood soft.