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Wikimedia Commons · Public domain · Hover to magnify, click for fullscreen
Original fileThis monochromatic work depicts a muscular, monumental Isaiah seated in a dynamic pose, turning his body as he displays a large scroll. Two winged putti stand behind him on either side, framing the prophet against a classical architectural backdrop. The composition is a copy of Raphael's famous fresco in the Church of Sant'Agostino, which was heavily influenced by Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel ceiling.
Isaiah represents the Renaissance synthesis of Hebrew prophecy and classical aesthetic form, a key component of 'prisca theologia' which sought to harmonize various ancient traditions into a single divine truth. This intellectual movement, championed by figures like Egidio da Viterbo, viewed Old Testament prophets as parallel to the Sibyls and Greek philosophers in their intuition of the divine Logos.
Egidio da Viterbo
A prominent Renaissance Neoplatonist and Hebraist in Raphael's Roman circle who emphasized the philosophical harmony between Hebrew scripture and classical wisdom.
Book of Isaiah
The primary scriptural source for the figure and his prophetic message.
Object
Oil on panel
religious
Digital Source
Wikimedia Commons · Public domain
https://www.teylersmuseum.nl/en/search?SearchableText=Raffaello%20Sanzio%20(1483-1520)
848 × 1280 px
Linked Data
AI AI-cataloged fields generated by gemini-3-flash-preview on April 1, 2026. Getty identifiers are AI-inferred and may require verification.