The Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts holding Russia's first exhibition of Raphaël Santi – a painter, draftsman and architect of the Renaissance, one of the greatest geniuses in the history of world art. The master's creativity influenced numerous artists of the following generations including those in Russia.
The exposition includes paintings and drawings by Raphaël Santi from Uffizzi and other Italian galleries. Several works by the artist were earlier exhibited at various exhibitions in the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts. In particular, Donna Velata from Palazzo Pitti Gallery, Florence and The Lady with a Unicorn from Borgeza Gallery, Rome were displayed at the exhibitions of one painting in 1989 and 2011 respectively.
The Renaissance was of great value and influence in the history of European culture. It was first of all the time of unparalleled blossoming of various arts. Raphael, called "divine" in his lifetime already was one of the Renaissance titans, with his art embodying the ideal of beauty and perfection of harmony.
Special attention at the exhibition will be paid to Raphael's portrait painting. The artist created a new type of the Renaissance portrait: a particular living individual's face in it becomes a generalized image of the person of its epoch. Raphael managed to creatively reconsider Leonardo da Vinci's achievements, especially in portrait painting. At the same time he replaced Leonardo's famous sfumatto (the subtlest transitions light and shade) it with the colourful palette based on gradation of clear light tones.
The 500th anniversary since the death Raphaël Santi's will be widely commemorated around the world in 2020. The exhibition in the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts will become the first one in the series of significant events timed to this date.
The curator of the exhibition is Doctor of art criticism, chief researcher of Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts, and the custodian of Museum's Italian painting collection Victoria Markova.
The exhibition takes place under the patronage of the President of the Russian Federation and the President of Italy. The exhibition has been implemented at the initiative and with full support of  the Italian Embassy in Moscow.