Portrait of a Cardinal (Raphael) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Portrait of a Cardinal |
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| Artist | Raphael |
| Year | c. 1510–1511 |
| Medium | Oil on wood |
| Dimensions | 79 cm × 61 cm (31 in × 24 in) |
| Location | Museo del Prado, Madrid |
The Portrait of a Cardinal, also known as The Cardinal, is a famous painting by the Italian artist Raphael. He painted it around 1510 or 1511. Today, you can see this amazing artwork at the Prado Museum in Madrid, Spain.
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About the Artist: Raphael
Raphael was a very important artist during the Italian Renaissance. This was a time in Europe (roughly from the 14th to the 17th century) when there was a huge rebirth of art, science, and learning. Raphael came to Rome in 1508. He quickly became very successful, especially while Pope Julius II was the leader of the Catholic Church.
Raphael's Realistic Style
Raphael was a master of realism in his paintings. This means he was incredibly good at making people look very lifelike. A writer named Pietro Bembo once said that Raphael could "paint people as more real than they really are." This shows how amazing his skill was at capturing the true look and feel of a person.
What the Painting Shows
This painting shows a young cardinal. A cardinal is a high-ranking official in the Catholic Church, usually chosen by the Pope. The cardinal in the painting looks like he is in his thirties. He is sitting down and wearing a bright red cape and cap, which are part of a cardinal's special clothes. He also has a white shirt. The background behind him is dark, which makes him stand out even more. He looks calmly out at the viewer, almost as if he is looking right at you!
Who is the Cardinal?
For a long time, people have wondered who the cardinal in the painting really is. Many different important people from the court of Pope Julius II have been suggested. Some of the ideas include:
- Bernardo Dovizi (also known as Bibbiena)
- Innocenzo Cybo
- Scaramuccia Trivulzio
- Alessandro Farnese
- Ippolito d'Este
- Silvio Passerini
- Antonio Ciocchi
- Matthäus Schiner
- Luigi d'Aragona
The Prado Museum, where the painting is kept, thinks it is most likely Francesco Alidosi (who lived from 1455 to 1511). Raphael also painted Alidosi in another work called the Disputation of the Holy Sacrament around 1509–1510. Another possibility is Bendinello Sauli (who lived from about 1481 to 1518).
Artistic Style and Composition
Raphael used some clever tricks to make this painting special. The cardinal is sitting upright, and his left arm is resting on a chair that you can't quite see. This creates a shape like a triangle in the painting. This idea was inspired by Leonardo da Vinci's famous Mona Lisa.
The lighting in the painting is very strong. This creates amazing contrasts between the bright red of the cardinal's hat and cape, the pure white of his sleeve and face, and the dark background. Raphael used very careful brushstrokes to make the cardinal look three-dimensional, almost like a sculpture. This shows that Raphael was very interested in sculpture during the years he painted this artwork.
History of the Painting
The Portrait of a Cardinal was bought in Rome by Charles IV of Spain (who lived from 1748 to 1819). At the time, Charles IV was still the Prince of Asturias, which meant he was next in line to become king.
For a while, people thought that another artist named Antonio Moro had painted it. This was because the way it was painted seemed a bit different from Raphael's usual style. But later, experts looked at it again and realized it was indeed a work by Raphael. The painting then became part of the Spanish royal collection. It was listed in the collection at the Royal Palace of Aranjuez in 1818. Later, it was moved to the Prado Museum, where it is today.
See also
- List of paintings by Raphael
