Raphael Comes to America--And None Too Soon!

The article reviews the exhibition "Raphael: Sublime Poetry" at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, the first major comprehensive display of Raphael's work in the United States, running from March 29 to June 28, 2026. The exhibition features over 170 masterpieces by Raphael (Raffaello di Giovanni Santi, 1483–1520), including his earliest known independent work, a two-sided processional banner, and highlights his development within the context of 15th-century Italian Renaissance art and culture. It also presents works by Raphael's father, Giovanni Santi, and contemporaries such as Perugino, emphasizing Raphael's innovative approach to composition and proportionality in painting. The exhibit situates Raphael's artistic achievements alongside the broader intellectual and cultural advancements of Renaissance Italy.