Raphael.

For centuries Raphael has been recognised as the supreme High Renaissance painter, more versatile than Michelangelo and more prolific than their older contemporary Leonardo

Raphael's example as a paragon of classicism dominated the academic tradition of European painting until the mid-19th century.

Raphael was an Italian Renaissance painter and architect. He was born in Urbino, which at the time was a cultural centre that encourage the Arts. His father, Giovanni Santi, was a painter for the Duke of Urbino, Federico da Montefeltro. Raphael's father taught him basic painting techniques and exposed him to the principles of humanistic philosophy at the Duke of Urbino's court before his death in 1494, Raphael was just 11 years old. He then took over the job of managing his fathers workshop,Raphael was soon considered one of the finest painters in town as a teen was commissioned to paint for the Church of San Nicola in the neighbouring town of Castello.