Painted pearl unlocks secret of Raphael's love

Reuters ^ | 6/17/05 | Clara Ferreira-Marques

[wagglebee]

Interesting theory.

[Tax-chick]

I remember the paintings from Western Civ class my freshman year of college, but we didn't hear the gory details :-).

[conservative cat]

That is a great story.

[Paul Atreides]

You mean he wasn't a homosexual? I thought that every artists, musician, writer, leader, philosopher, etc., going back to the year one, was a homosexual.

/sarcasm

[tiamat]

If you click on the Reuters link, you can see the painting.

[asp1]

Good article and interesting theory.

Have you ever watched the Sister Wendy programs on (ugh), PBS? Sister Wendy is a British Catholic nun who has some of the most interesting takes on many artists and art works. I think I learned more from her than a host of teachers that I had over the years.

I love Raphael's work, but Da Vinci's is the best IMHO! :*)

[Sacajaweau]

Cool....Died at 37. Imagine what we could have before us if he lived another 20 years.

Did he die a natural death?

[MinuteGal]

It would make a great movie, starring Barbra Streisand and Robert Redford.

Leni

[mel]

btt

[primeval patriot]

[GSlob]

"You mean he wasn't a homosexual?"
Nah, Raphael was merely a fornicator. Leonardo was the one who was a homo, and Michelangelo was a manic-depressive. These High Renaissance Masters were quite a bunch.

[rawhide]

[latina4dubya]

Leonardo was the one who was a homo

is that true? he did have a very distant relationship with his father...

[GSlob]

Yes, it is true. He had a young pupil, Salai(?) by name, and in Leonardo's notebooks and drawings there are enough references in rather graphic detail, properly fit for a VERY adult magazine.

[eleni121]

"It is hard to overstate Raphael's status in Rome -- he was a superstar. The distance separating them was like that which today would separate George Clooney and his cleaner."

---

Really...I wonder if anyone asked the "cleaner" if she is slightly motivated to get in bed with short and smelly Clooney. So typical of A loopy European dilettante saying something like this.

[TXnMA]

I put only a tiny bit of effort into matching image size, brightness, etc, but, Unless Rapahel painted all ears the same, I'd say the "Fornarina" and the" Velata" portray the same woman.

Fornarina/Velata

(FWIW, in the full image, the "Fornarina" looks pregnant, to me...)

[Republicanprofessor]

I thought he'd died of diseases as a result of fooling around with court women. But I could not find verification of this on line.

Raphael School of Athens 1510-12

Raphael detail of the above work, with Raphael's self-portrait second from the right

Raphael detail again, with his lover looking at us. I had never heard this before, but sounds plausible to me. However, I think the lady in School of Athens looks prettier and different from Fornarina.

BTW, that slumped figure in the middle is Michelangelo, added to the painting after Raphael got a sneak peak at the Sistine Chapel. Michelangelo is moody and is posed somewhat like his prophets on the edge of the Sistine Chapel.

Raphael of Michelangelo vs. Michelangelo's Isaiah

[Republicanprofessor]

Art Ping.

Let Sam Cree or I know if you want on or off the list.

[Republicanprofessor]

Art Appreciaton/Education ping list.

Let me know if you want on or off this list. This is not a recent "class," but it is still interesting.

The next "class" on Cubism is coming up in a day or two.

[Dante3]

These have turned into such fascinating threads.