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    Raphael, Painter in Rome: A Novel
    Raphael, Painter in Rome: A Novel
    Raphael, Painter in Rome: A Novel
    Audiobook12 hours

    Raphael, Painter in Rome: A Novel

    Written by Stephanie Storey

    Narrated by P.J. Ochlan

    4.5/5

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    About this audiobook

    Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel ceiling is one of the most iconic masterpieces of the Renaissance. Here, in Raphael, Painter in Rome, Storey tells of its creation as never before: through the eyes of Michelangelo's fiercest rival-the young, beautiful, brilliant painter of perfection, Raphael. Orphaned at age eleven, Raphael is determined to keep the deathbed promise he made to his father: become the greatest artist in history. But to be the best, he must beat the best, the legendary sculptor of the David, Michelangelo Buonarroti. When Pope Julius II calls both artists down to Rome, they are pitted against each other: Michelangelo painting the Sistine Ceiling, while Raphael decorates the pope's private apartments. As Raphael strives toward perfection in paint, he battles internal demons: his desperate ambition, crippling fear of imperfection, and unshakable loneliness. Along the way, he conspires with cardinals, scrambles through the ruins of ancient Rome, and falls in love with a baker's-daughter-turned-prostitute who becomes his muse.

    With its gorgeous writing, rich settings, endearing characters, and riveting plot, Raphael, Painter in Rome brings to vivid life these two Renaissance masters going head to head in the deadly halls of the Vatican.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherTantor Media, Inc
    Release dateApr 7, 2020
    ISBN9781494548742
    Author

    Stephanie Storey

    Stephanie Storey is a writer and art fanatic. She has a degree in fine arts from Vanderbilt University and an MFA from Emerson College. When not writing fiction and screenplays, she works as a television producer. Oil and Marble is her debut novel, followed by the ebullient novel, Raphael: Painter in Rome. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, an actor and Emmy-winning comedy writer.

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    Reviews for Raphael, Painter in Rome

    4.5/5

    32 ratings5 reviews

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    • 5/5
      amazing! I felt like I was talking with the real Raphael!
    • 4/5
      I would not have read this book if it weren’t for an upcoming online book chat. However, I am glad I read it. One of my retirement goals is to become better acquainted with art and art history. This Kindle book had links to the artworks, and I loved this. Since I read it on my iPad, it was so simple to view embedded artworks as I read. Having immediate access to art was a significant enhancement to this historical fiction. I also found it interesting how the author talked to readers in the second person while telling the narrative as Raphael in the first person.

      It was fascinating to enjoy a story that emphasized Raphael’s inner conflicts as well as his rivalries with other artists. Additionally, I learned a great deal about papal politics during the 1500s.

      I wish I had read this book before visiting the Vatican. I would have known how to interpret so much more.
    • 4/5
      Told through Raphael's eyes we learn how he ended up in the Vatican painting the private apartments of Pope Julius II. We learn of his victories and his competition with Michelangelo.Once I got into the cadence of Raphael's story, I truly enjoyed this story. It took me about 50 pages to do that. I liked the first person point-of-view. I found this to be almost written as a play. Raphael is telling the tale and giving us vignettes of his life then all of a sudden he throws an aside to the audience about his thoughts and feelings. Sometimes I feel that he wants us to laugh and not take this so seriously like Michelangelo takes his art. I found the competition between the two men interesting. Their personalities are opposite each other and where they feel comfortable in the art world is different. Raphael does not spare us the gossip and accusations about himself. He does not think things through but he manages to get through life in Rome.A lot of research was done. I appreciate the bibliography at the end of the book if I want to do more research on my own. Worth the read.
    • 5/5
      The politics of the particular time in Rome’s history are as much a “character” in this book as the outsized personalities of the great artists of the Renaissance; Michelangelo, Raphael, Leonardo, Bramante and others. I will admit to not being a huge fan of Raphael’s art – his pieces are too refined, yes – too perfect for me. My passions lie in more towards the chaos and power of what Michelangelo left to the world. That is not discount the beauty of what Raphael created – this is the magnificence of art. There is something for everyone.The focus of this book is the painting of the Sistine Ceiling. Obviously we all know who painted it and how it looks now but Ms. Storey actually creates a tension about whether the outcome will be as history has shown. That is some kind of writing. I mean – we all know that Michelangelo painted that ceiling, we know exactly what it looks like and yet as I got caught up in the story I wondered if he was going to be fired. Although history also tells us that Michelangelo was a testy sort of fellow and despite his genius he might well of had been!But this is Raphael’s story and so we should turn our attention to his efforts to promote himself to the powers that be so that he could be considered for the job of painting the ceiling. We learn of Raphael growing up in his father’s shadow, learning to paint from him. It was his father that gave him the drive to seek perfection in his art. After his father died he was apprenticed with the great painter Perugino and from there he went on to seek to improve upon many of the masters’ works of art. Was he copying or was he improving? A good question…Ms. Storey shows the artist’s insecurities in his desire to best all of the artists of his day but one wonders if Raphael was ever passionate about the art or only about acheiving the perfect painting. He is also determined to paint the Sistine, not realizing that it has already been promised to Michelangelo. Not realizing that Michelangelo was not just a sculptor. Raphael did paint a suite of rooms in the Vatican and that is where you will find his most well known work, the one we know today as The School of Athens. But is was not the ceiling.The story was a truly compelling one, especially for someone who loves this period in history and these artists. But beyond the art it’s just a good tale. It was a real page turner for me and I knew exactly how it was going to turn out! Ms. Storey brought the greats of the Renaissance to life from Pope Julius II, Pope Leo X (he of the “…God has seen fit to grant us the Papacy, let us enjoy it.”) to the great artists of the time. I did not have the opportunity to read her first book, Oil and Marble but it’s on my wishlist.And as an aside, I remember the first time I saw the Sistine Ceiling. I walked into the room and was literally was stopped dead in my tracks. The guard at the door had to touch my arm and encourage me to move along. I’ve never had an experience like that before or after. It was close when I saw Michelangelo’s Pieta in St. Peter’s. Even as stunning a work of art as that is, it did not cause the reaction the Ceiling did.
    • 5/5
      The book of the year for me! And that is out of over 100 books!I did not think that it would be possible for the author to surpass the greatness of her first book, Oil and Marble. In fact, I was anxious to start this one, as in the past, I have found that an author's second book rarely lives up to their first effort. I need not have worried! This book was fantastic! The author's depiction and development of Rapheal's character was exquisite! If you could not feel yourself standing in his shoes, you need to try again. Her writing abilities are amazing!And the settings of the scenes! One did not even have to close one's eyes to see them in front of you. You are there. Smelling the paint, feeling the weather, feeling the aching in your muscles at the exertions of painting for hours. The story just keeps unfolding and unfolding, like a giant tapestry. You want to slow down, to savor every page, but you can't! You have to keep going and going, eager to find out what happens next. And the details! The author obviously has studied the art and artists extensively. Her knowledge just jumps off the pages As mentioned in other reviews, if you have an opportunity to view the art referred to as you read this, it just adds to the joy. I know that I will never look at this art the same way again. I cannot wait until my next trip to Italy, to gaze at the art in person and think about all the author has taught me!The only bad thing I can think of, is that I may have to wait another year or more for her next book! Bravo!