Portrait of a Young Man in Red, Rafaël
An unknown man, cool and contained, stands proudly in front of a prosperous landscape that may include a portrait of his own residence. The fine yet restrained clothes, direct gaze, and proud bearing characterize the new Renaissance emphasis on individualism. The three-quarter turn of the body, with his arm forming the base of the triangular composition, became a popular pose in that era; not incidentally, it draws attention to the man's ring and the fine Middle Eastern carpet covering the table.
Raphael was an Italian artist from the High Renaissance.
Raphael is the name by which he is now known worldwide. His real name was Raffaello Sanzio. He is also known under names like Raffaello Santi and Raffaello da Urbino. As with many artists from the Italian Renaissance, his life is described in the famous book Le Vite by the 16th century painter and writer Giorgio Vasari.
