Ille hic est Raphael timuit quo sospite vinci, rerum magna parens et moriente mori.
“Here lies that famous Raphael by whom Nature feared to be conquered while he lived, and when he was dying, feared herself to die.”
Pietro Bembo, inscription on Raphael’s sarcophagus. Pantheon, Rome
Raphael: The Lord of the Arts (Italy 2017, 91′) is the first film adaptation of the life and work of one of the most famous artists in the world, Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino (1483-1520).
Few figures in the history of art have lived a life so full of intensity and fascination quite like Raphael Sanzio. He died aged just 37 and yet managed to leave an indelible mark on art with his serene portraits and the sinuous grandeur of his human forms. In a well-balanced dialogue between historical reconstructions and artistic commentary, the film retraces the most significant moments of Raphael’s life. Expert contributions delivered with feeling by great art historians enrich the story of the life and work of the artist portrayed by Flavio Parenti.
The film is set in 20 locations, two of which are major exclusives, the Vatican Logge and Cardinal Bibbiena’s apartment in the Apostolic Palace, and shows some of the most famous and most representative of Raphael’s entire work.
Beauty comes to life in a crescendo through the brushwork and enduring genius of one of the most talented artists the world has ever known.