Death of Raphael
Classification
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Anonymous Donor
Accession Number
1952-60-5
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
John Sartain’s 1847 print *Death of Raphael* captures a poignant moment from art history: the final hours of the beloved Renaissance master, who died in Rome in 1520 at height of his fame. As American engraver working in the mid-nineteenth century, Sartain specialized in reproductive prints that brought celebrated European paintings and historical scenes to a wider audience. His choice of subject reflects the period’s deep fascination with the Old Masters and the romantic notion of the artist’s life and legacy. Though the precise medium remains unrecorded, the work’s classification as a print...