The Death of Raphael
Original title: The Death of Raphael
kurzbeschreibung
Pen in black and brown, set off by grey wash — with these means Johannes Riepenhausen holds fast the death of the Renaissance painter Raphael. The sheet was made in 1832 or earlier and gathers mourners around the artist as he lies on a bed.
Description
A man rests on a couch, surrounded by several figures whose bearing betrays grief and worry. Some kneel down, others remain standing. Toward the back a figure raises the arms as if praying or lamenting. Curtains and a door close off the room. The arrangement presses the figures tightly together, and grey tones govern the sheet.
Context
Riepenhausen, a German painter and printmaker of the Romantic era, spent many years in Italy. His subject is Raphael's death in Rome in 1520. The sheet belongs to the early nineteenth century, when Raphael counted as the model of classical art. Several of Riepenhausen's works circle around his life and take their place in the Romantic veneration of the master.
Impact
The close row of figures and the muted grey tone give the sheet a solemn, melancholy mood. Gestures of lament and the dying man's central position draw the viewer's eye straight into the event.
Technique
The sheet is worked with pen in black and brown ink; grey wash lays in the shadows. The framing was done with graphite and brush in grey. The paper measures 26.6 x 35.1 cm, and the execution looks careful and rich in detail.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)