RAPHAEL: THE DRAWINGS

This captivating exhibition brought together 120 stunning works from international collections spanning the brief but brilliant career of this Renaissance genius.

Aged only 37 when he died, Raphael’s fame in drawing had a transformative effect on European art over centuries. This exciting exhibition focused on his extraordinary creativity, and showed how exploration and experimentation shaped his breathtakingly accomplished drawings.

The Ashmolean’s unrivalled Raphaels were joined by superb works from the Albertina and loans from other international collections including the Louvre, the Uffizi and Her Majesty the Queen. Drawings included the exquisite Head of a Muse, which broke records when auctioned at Christies in 2009, as well as the sublime Heads and Hands of two Apostles, considered to be the finest drawing Raphael ever made.