Los angles , US
September 4, 2025
In a monumental artistic event for the United States, America’s Largest Raphael Exhibition is set to open at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, featuring an unprecedented collection of more than 200 of his works. Titled Raphael: Sublime Poetry, this landmark show will be the first comprehensive, international loan exhibition in the U.S. dedicated to the Italian Renaissance master. By bringing together a breathtaking array of paintings, drawings, and tapestries from around the world, The Met aims to offer a fresh perspective on one of art history’s greatest figures.
The exhibition, which will open to the public on March 29, 2026, and run until June 28, 2026, has been years in the making. Curated by Carmen Bambach of the Met’s Department of Drawings and Prints, the show will offer a chronological journey through Raphael’s tragically short but prolific career. Visitors will be guided from his early years in Urbino, to his prolific time in Florence where he became a peer to Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo, to his final decade at the papal court in Rome. This comprehensive structure will allow audiences to witness the evolution of his style and the sheer breadth of his creative genius.
A key highlight of the exhibition will be the reuniting of finished paintings with their preparatory drawings. For the first time ever, audiences will be able to see works like The Virgin and Child with Infant Saint John the Baptist in a Landscape (The Alba Madonna) from the National Gallery of Art, hanging alongside the preparatory drawings for it from the Museum of Fine Arts in Lille, France. This unique approach provides an intimate glimpse into the artist’s creative process, from the first sketch to the final masterpiece.
The scale of the exhibition is staggering, with over 200 works on loan from more than 40 different institutions. Renowned museums such as the Vatican Museums, the Louvre in Paris, London’s British Museum, and Florence’s Uffizi Gallery have contributed key pieces, making the exhibition a truly global effort. The Met’s own collection will be represented by key works, including its altarpiece from the Sant’Antonio convent in Perugia, showcasing the depth of its holdings. The sheer number of works, many of which are rarely loaned, will offer an unparalleled opportunity to experience Raphael’s genius firsthand.
In addition to showcasing his renowned masterpieces, the exhibition will also pay special attention to Raphael’s pioneering portrayal of women, from his sensitive depictions of the Madonna and Child to his groundbreaking use of nude female models. It will also incorporate the results of recent scientific discoveries, which have shed new light on the artist’s techniques and materials. These elements will add a modern, scholarly dimension to the exhibition, enriching the visitor’s experience and fostering a deeper understanding of Raphael’s artistry and legacy.
Headline Points
* Largest-Ever U.S. Exhibition: The Metropolitan Museum of Art is hosting the largest-ever U.S. exhibition on Renaissance master Raphael.
* More Than 200 Works: The exhibition, titled Raphael: Sublime Poetry, will feature over 200 works, including paintings, drawings, and tapestries, on loan from around the world.
* Traces Artist’s Life: The show is structured chronologically, following Raphael’s career from his early years in Urbino to his final decade in Rome.
* Rare Reunions: The exhibition will reunite finished paintings with their original preparatory drawings, offering a unique look into the artist’s creative process.
* Opens March 2026: The exhibition will run from March 29 to June 28, 2026, and is set to be a major cultural event.
