Where can you see Raphael in London?

At the National Gallery: Portrait of Pope Julius II and The Madonna of the Pinks. At the Victoria and Albert Museum: The Raphael Cartoons. Museums move and lend their works, so check before a special journey.

What is Raphael's most famous work in London?

The Raphael Cartoons, of 1515 to 1516, at the Victoria and Albert Museum. Seven designs each more than three metres high and up to five wide: the Miraculous Draught of Fishes, the Death of Ananias, Paul preaching at Athens. They were cut into strips for the weavers and joined again a century later.

When and where was Raphael born?

On 6 April 1483, at Urbino, Italy. Raphael died on 6 April 1520, at Rome, Italy, aged about 37.

What is Raphael known for?

The cartoons were bought by the future Charles I in 1623. They have been on loan to the V&A since 1865. The National Gallery holds some ten of his paintings. Raphael was an Italian painter, of the High Renaissance.

Painter, 1483 to 1520

Raphael

Outside Italy no city has more of Raphael than London. The largest works by him anywhere beyond the Vatican fill one hall of the V&A, and they belong to the King.

Born: 1483, Urbino, Italy
Died: 1520, Rome, Italy
Movement: High Renaissance
In London: 3 works in 2 museums

Where to see Raphael in London

Each work with the museum it hangs in. Museums move and lend their works, so check before a special journey.

The National Gallery2 works

Portrait of Pope Julius II
1511
The old pope who had Raphael paint his rooms and Michelangelo his chapel, seated, tired, with the beard he grew as a vow. It set the pattern for portraits of popes for two centuries.
The Madonna of the Pinks
about 1506 to 1507
A panel hardly bigger than a book: a young mother and her child pass flowers between them. It was bought for the gallery in 2004.

Victoria and Albert Museum1 work

The Raphael Cartoons
1515 to 1516
Seven designs each more than three metres high and up to five wide: the Miraculous Draught of Fishes, the Death of Ananias, Paul preaching at Athens. They were cut into strips for the weavers and joined again a century later.

The life of Raphael

In 1515 Pope Leo X ordered from Raphael ten designs for tapestries of the lives of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, to hang below Michelangelo's ceiling. They were painted in colour on paper at full size and sent to Brussels to be woven. Seven survive.

What to know

The cartoons were bought by the future Charles I in 1623
They have been on loan to the V&A since 1865
The National Gallery holds some ten of his paintings

Born: 6 April 1483, Urbino, Italy
Died: 6 April 1520, Rome, Italy

Raphael: common questions

Where can you see Raphael in London?: At the National Gallery: Portrait of Pope Julius II and The Madonna of the Pinks. At the Victoria and Albert Museum: The Raphael Cartoons. Museums move and lend their works, so check before a special journey.
What is Raphael's most famous work in London?: The Raphael Cartoons, of 1515 to 1516, at the Victoria and Albert Museum. Seven designs each more than three metres high and up to five wide: the Miraculous Draught of Fishes, the Death of Ananias, Paul preaching at Athens. They were cut into strips for the weavers and joined again a century later.
When and where was Raphael born?: On 6 April 1483, at Urbino, Italy. Raphael died on 6 April 1520, at Rome, Italy, aged about 37.
What is Raphael known for?: The cartoons were bought by the future Charles I in 1623. They have been on loan to the V&A since 1865. The National Gallery holds some ten of his paintings. Raphael was an Italian painter, of the High Renaissance.