Self-portrait by Raphael in Pushkin museum (2016) by shakko 01

The artist is depicted as a young man in a three-quarter view, looking back over his shoulder toward the viewer. He is dressed simply in a black cap and dark tunic with a thin white collar visible, set against a muted, dark background. His expression is calm and contemplative, emphasizing his presence as an intellectual and creator.

Raphael is the primary visual architect of High Renaissance Neoplatonism, most notably through his 'School of Athens' fresco. This portrait exemplifies the transition of the artist from a manual craftsman to an inspired intellectual, a shift deeply influenced by the humanist and Neoplatonic circles of Florence and Rome.