The Alba Madonna

Raphael Sanzio known primarily by his first name alone was an Italian High Renaissance artist known for his drawings and paintings. Raphael lived from 1843 until 1520. He along with Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci are considered the greatest artist of their time. He spent the early years of his career in Umbria and Florence, but spent his later years in Rome. He produced art for two different Popes during his time in Rome before dying at the age of thirty seven. One of his highest celebrated pieces is The Alba Madonna completed in 1509. This painting depicts the Virgin Mary holding baby Jesus who is grasping at a cross being held by his cousin, a young John the Baptist. All three subjects are focused on the cross that defines the meaning of the painting. The beautiful painting is the end result of a process that began as drawings. Raphael’s normal practice was to produce multiple drawings starting with quick sketches that were followed by more finished drawings that would serve as models to be transferred to his canvas. Raphael used these drawings to fine tune what would become his final work of art. His drawings served as an outline that he could update or edit as he deemed necessary prior to producing his final painting. He would use these drawings to experiment with different positions and compositions for what he had in mind as his final result. You can see in the drawings that Raphael intended the final product would be circular. The drawings depict how he is making the shoulders of Mary and the back of John the Baptist to begin the visual of the circular concept. He ultimately draws a circle around the figures. His drawings capture and serve to document the creative process he went through in producing the final painting. Raphael used a variety of materials for his drawings. In his early years, Raphael trained at the Pietro