Rebuilding The Renaissance

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Episode 181 - Raphael's "Transfiguration" (Vatican Museums) Jul 06, 2022

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Commissioned in 1516, four years before Raphael's premature death at the age of 37, by Cardinal Giulio de' Medici, the "Transfiguration" was Raphael's last great altarpiece. The painting is a sort of summation of Raphael's artistic evolution, and not only synthesizes the artistic styles of Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo, but is also a harbinger of the Tenebrist style of Caravaggio nearly a century later.

Episode 180 - Rome: The Villa Farnesina - Renaissance Pleasure Palace Part II Jun 29, 2022

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This episode continues to explore the extraordinary painting decorations of Rome's seminal Renaissance suburban villa. From the zodiacal images that represent the patron's horoscope, to Sebastiano del Piombo's "Polyphemus," to one of Raphael's most beautiful paintings known as "The Galatea', and, finally, to the virtual-reality-like Hall of Perspectives, the extensive fresco decoration of the villa makes it one of the most impressive decorative complexes in the world.

Episode 179 - Rome: The Villa Farnesina - Renaissance Pleasure Palace Part I Jun 22, 2022

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The Villa Farnesina was the first Renaissance pleasure palace and belonged to the fabulously wealthy banker Agostino Chigi. The decorations of the palace delighted many a pope and international ruler. On one occasion, dinner was served on golden tableware that guests were invited to throw into the Tiber upon completing their meal. This episode explores the history and architecture of this extraordinary decorative complex; and how the erotic nature of the art clearly reflected the type of activity that took place within its walls.

Episode 178 - Rome - Raphael's Room of the Fire in the Borgo Jun 15, 2022

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The last of the apartments decorated by Raphael for Popes Julius II and Leo X was the Room of the Fire in the Borgo, painted between 1514-1517. Although largely executed by Raphael's student and friend Giulio Romano, the frescoes represent Raphael's mature period and were completed only 3 years before the artist's premature death in 1520. This episode will examine the style, iconography and history of the paintings in this extraordinary room with particular emphasis given to the homonymous fresco.

Episode 177 - Rome - Raphael's Room of Heliodorus Jun 08, 2022

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In 1511, after completing the decoration of the Stanza della Segnatura, Raphael began painting the walls of Pope Julius' private audience room. Named after its principal scene - The Expulsion of Heliodorus - the room contains four of Raphael's most beautiful paintings. This episode will explore the style, iconography and meaning of Raphael's paintings in the Room of Heliodorus.

Episode 176 - Rome - Raphael's School of Athens Part III Jun 01, 2022

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This is the final episode of a three-part series dedicated to Raphael's great fresco in the Vatican Museums. It addresses the extraordinary Classically-inspired architectural setting of the painting, as well as identifying the celebrated philosophical and scientific personages depicted. Lastly, this episode dismisses the conspiracy theory that the fresco is reflective of a failed plot on the part of Bramante and Raphael to humiliate Michelangelo.

Episode 175 - Rome - Raphael's "School of Athens" Part II May 25, 2022

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This episode explores the decorative context of Raphael's famous fresco. From Apollo on Mt. Parnassus, to the allegorical figures of the cardinal virtues, the extraordinary "Disputa", the paintings around the "School of Athens" are fundamental to its meaning.

Episode 174 - Rome - Raphael's "School of Athens" Part I May 18, 2022

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Although Raphael's fresco known as the "School of Athens" is the most celebrated painting of the Stanza della Segnatura, it is actually a part of a much larger program. This episode addresses the original function of the room, which was Pope Julius II's library, and how all of Raphael's paintings are in actuality part of a giant visual card catalog.

Episode 173 - Raphael - The Prince of Painters May 11, 2022

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This episode examines the extraordinary career of one of the most important painters in history – Raphael Sanzio da Urbino – better known simply as "Raphael." Along with Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo, Raphael heralded in the period known as the High Renaissance. Combining grace, elegance and beauty, Raphael defined the standard for idealized painting.

Episode 172 - Answers to Open Questions XII May 04, 2022

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From unfinished church facades, to postponed Palios, to Renaissance giraffes, to Mona Lisa's smile, to the building behind the Trevi Fountain - and much, much more - this episode answers the very questions that you asked me about the great art, artists and history of the Italian Renaissance.

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