Galatea, Raphael

date?

1512

artist?

Raphael

patron?

Agostino Chigi

dimensions?

2\.95 x 2.25 m

location?

Villa Chigi

Material?

Fresco

what type of painting is this?

Mythological

what ideas are conveyed in the version of the story where Galatea rejects Polyphemus?

Neo-Platonic love

what ideas are conveyed in the version of the story where Galatea gives into Polyphemus?

earthly and physical lust

where is a symbol of lust?

one of the dolphins eating an octopus

where is a symbol of love?

the dolphins drawing the chariot

where was Chigi’s villa located?

on the banks of the river Tiber in Rome

what was the source?

Poliziano’s verses for Joust of Guiliano de Medici

what were Poliziano’s verses inspired by?

Philostratus - latin poet

what was Chigi doing at this time?

attempting to court Margarita Gonzaga, the daughter of Marquis of Mantua - he was rejected

who was Chigi close and a trusted friend to?

Julius II and Leo X

what was Raphael able to combine in this?

his knowledge of drapery from roman relief sculptures with a combination of the best parts of female beauty that he had seen.

what was Raphael inspired by regarding the pose and anatomy of Galatea?

Michelangelo’s Slaves.

what did Chigi encourage whilst Raphael completed the fresco?

to spend time with his mistress and his understanding of real women is seen in his ‘La Fornarina’ (1518-19).

what did Jullius II contribute to?

the manuscripts in the Vatican library and launched the Papal collection of Greek and Roman sculpture.

what did Chigi own linked to Humanism?

ancient inscriptions and he would’ve been steeped in Neo-Platonism

what religious group was Chigi part of?

the circle of Julius II

what religious idea was Galatea a reflection of?

christian virtues and the higher form of Neo-Platonic love.

what is the painting a symbol of?

Chigi’s wealth and power and by implication that of Rome and the Papacy.

who was Chigi?

the richest man in Italy and was a banker to the Papacy.

what did Chigi provide for the tiara of Julius II?

the rubies and the tiara is seen in the Sistine Madonna, Raphael

what techniques did Raphael use and why was this possible?

it was painted on successive days and the giornate are visible in the different sections, as it was a fresco.

What does recent cleaning show?

That a frame was painted around Galatea, but not around Polyphemus

Source: What did Paoletti & Radke suggest about the work Galatea was made as a response to?

“Painted his own response to Botticelli’s Birth of Venus”

Source: What did Patrick de Rynk suggest about Galatea’s expression?

“Upward gaze is an expression of her desire to live”

Composition?

• Formal & dynamic

• Galatea drawn across stylised seascape - shell boat, pair of dolphins.

• Flanked on either side by tritons, nymphs & mythological sea creatures e.g. hippograph.

• Galatea = spiralling pose surrounded by red drapery.

What is Galatea’s spiralling pose reminiscent of?

Michelangelo’s unfinished ‘St Matthew’ (1503)

Colour?

• Contrasting warm & cool hues - warmer for flesh - highlights agitation of scene.

• Swirling red drapery - places Galatea in relief.

• Yellow drapery of nymph - contrast & harmonious echo of movement.

Space?

• Shallow space - action in foreground

• Galatea’s foreshortening - motion towards viewer = naturalistic depth.

• Figures overlap = depth

• Less crowded sky above horizon line = calm.

Light & tone?

• Cool & naturalistic

• Lit from left & behind

• Nymph + Galatea = lighter, illuminated - purity.

• Contrasts darker, aggressive males.

Form?

• Figures modelled in light - gradation of tone.

• Sculptural - influence of antiquity

• Linear = evidence of disengo.

Line?

• Putti arrows - guidelines towards Galatea = focal point.

• Arrows on left - traced by reins of dolphins - stabilises composition.

• Energetic, serpentine lines of twisting figures.

Scale?

• Large fresco - prestigious location used for entertaining.

• Proportionate & idealise

• Tritons have exaggerated muscles - yet retain naturalism.

Texture, pattern & ornamentation?

• Smooth surface = unity to complex & dynamic composition.

• No ornament - naturalistic

• Pattern is naturalistic e.g. grooves of shell.