The Triumph of Galatea

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About The Artist

     “The prince of Painters”, Raffaello Sanzi, or better known as Raphael was a famous High Renaissance architect, but was especially well know for his painting.  Raphael’s interest in art may have started with his first Mentor, his father. Giovanni Santi  was an painter classified as “of no great merit”.  His mother, Magia di Battista Ciarla died in 1491, with his father’s death not close behind, 1494.  At this point is when Raphael’s life really began as a real artist, or at least as a recognized one. His second apprenticeship was in 1495 with a well known Artist Pietro Perugino, whose work in the Vatican (The Giving of The Keys to Saint Peter) inspired Raphael’s first work of art. Then in 1500 Raphael started to become recognized, he was being called a “master” by 17 years of age.  In 1504 Raphael moved to Florence for four years which were vital to his life and his career.  During this time Raphael painted numerous pieces of art, mainly being The Madonnas.  The Madonna’s were Raphael’s main claim to fame but The School of Athens, and his Stanza della Signatura (Room of Signature) in the Vatican were also his signature masterpieces.  He also took an apprenticeship under Michelangelo and Leonardo.  Theses people affected his work immensely, like the skills of Leonardo’s light and dark, portrayed in Raphael’s Sfumato.  In 1508 Raphael moved to Rome and remained there for the last twelve years of his life. Raphael was requested for Rome because of a commission in architecture by Pope Julius the second.  Raphael died on his thirty seventh birthday and was buried in the Vatican. His last master piece, Transfiguration, was placed on the head of his bier.

About The Piece

The Triumph of Galatea is a fresco that was painted from 1511 to 1512 and resides in the Vatican, in the Stanza della Signatura (Room of the Signature).  The measures of its dimensions are 295 cm by 224 cm.  It was commissioned for a rich Sienese banker for the pope named Agostino Chigi.  Chigi also hired another man to work right next to Raphael his name was Sebastiano Del Piombo.  Both artists were basing their work off the same mythological Greek poem, Stanze per la giostra by Angelo Poliziano.  The poem goes, there once was a woman named Nereid Galatea who was married to Polyphemus a giant, but she fell in love with a Sheppard named Acis, when her husband heard of this he smashed Acis with a pillar. Though it was certainly intentional to place the artists side by side, it is uncertain whether it was supposed to create a rivalry and a competition.  This competition ended with Raphael winning.  Four years after these frescos were completed Chigi chose Raphael, and Raphael only, to paint the entrance loggia with Cupid and Psyche.  Also as a side result of seeing each others pieces they created completely different styles and moods.  Sebastiano’s Polyphemus is a massive giant that is seated with a stern disposition.  Polyphemus is the only person in this calmly and subtlety done background.  He is facing Raphael’s Galatea making it seem like he is longing for Galatea.  On the other hand Galatea is standing up with liberated motion and a crowded and active background. She is surrounded by Putti, multiple Tritons, and nymphs. 

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