2020 marks the 500th anniversary of the death of Italian painter Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino, known as Raphael and dubbed "The Trinity of Great Men of the Renaissance" with Leonardo Da Vinci and Michelangelo.
The Renaissance artist who created masterpieces like "The School of Athens" and "Sistine Madonna" lived for only 37 years, but the discussion of his works continues today. An exhibition named "Raffaello Opera Omnia" opened at the Beijing World Art Museum in December, as part of events to mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Italy and China.
"This exhibition uses creative digital technology to make 36 representative works of Raphael meet with the audience here," said Ji Pengcheng, the museum's executive director, at the opening of the exhibition. "(Raphael's artwork) has crossed time and space, makes us look back at the memory of the common civilization of mankind."
One of Raphael's most renowned art pieces 'The School of Athens.' /CFP
Raphael's artworks and his time
Born in the small Italian town Urbino, Raphael grew up in an artistic atmosphere. His father was a court painter of Duke, who taught Raphael painting techniques and exposed him to the principles of humanistic philosophy at the court.
Raphael developed his own artistic style later in his creating career, his portraits shows dignity and grace. After moving to Florence, Raphael learned to replace the grace with a more subtle movement.
One of famed Italian painter Raphael's most renowned paintings, 'Sistine Madonna.' /CFP
The artist started to portray a series of Madonnas since 1504, and some 34 paintings of the Madonna and child survive. Oil painting "Sistine Madonna" is one of Raphael's most renowned paintings, and also one of the last Madonnas he painted. Art historians Hans Belting and Helen Atkins called the painting a "supreme among the world's paintings," according to Art Story's introduction.
The digitization of classical works
The exhibition at Beijing World Art Museum digitally presents 36 representative works by Raphael, which gives visitors a chance to see the renaissance artist's original artworks digitally.
Artworks of Raphael at the exhibition 'Raffaello Opera Omnia' that's on in Beijing, December 22, 2020. /CFP
The original artworks are exhibited in museums around the world, and hard to be moved from a place to another.
Technology makes immovable treasures come together in a new form. Art lovers can appreciate these paintings on screens, and learn more about the details of Raphael's paintings by clicking the screen. The digitization is an example of the integration of art and technology.
The exhibition opens everyday from Tuesday to Monday and will run through February 2 next year.