Self-portrait by Raphael in Pushkin museum (2016) by shakko 05

This bust-length portrait depicts the young artist looking over his shoulder toward the viewer against a neutral background. He is dressed in a simple black doublet and matching cap, with his long brown hair framing a face rendered with soft, balanced lighting.

Raphael’s work represents the peak of High Renaissance Neoplatonism, where the artist's pursuit of 'bellezza' (beauty) was seen as a way to perceive divine order. As the creator of 'The School of Athens,' Raphael is the preeminent visual cataloger of the Western philosophical and esoteric lineage.