Raphael, Painter in Rome: a Novel

Stephanie Storey

Chapters (75)

Front Cover

Half-Title Page

Also by Stephanie Storey:

Oil and Marble: A Novel of Leonardo and Michelangelo

Title Page

Copyright Page

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any manner without the express written consent of the publisher, except in the case of brief excerpts in critical reviews or articles. All inquiries should be addressed to Arcade Publishing, 307 West 36th Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10018.

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available on file.

Cover design by Erin Seaward-Hiatt

Cover photo credit The Triumph of Galatea, courtesy Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei/Villa Farnesina in Rome.

ISBN: 978-1-950691-27-2

Ebook ISBN: 978-1-950691-31-9

Printed in the United States of America

Dedication

Dedicated to
my parents, Steve and Kathy Storey,
for always holding the kite strings

A Note from the Author

Although this book is fiction, the story is based on decades of research into the art of the Italian Renaissance and the real life of Raphael Santi of Urbino, painter for popes and Michelangelo’s fiercest rival during the Sistine ceiling years.

Since the experience of this book is greatly enhanced with visuals, the author has personally placed hyperlinks throughout this ebook; click on those links if you'd like to view the referenced works of art. For your reference, the cover of this novel is Raphael’s fresco The Triumph of Galatea, painted in Agostino Chigi’s palace, today known as the Villa Farnesina.

Prologue

Rome. March 1520

Why does Michelangelo always get to be the hero?

A struggling sculptor, not trained in the art of fresco— forced by a temperamental pope to abandon his precious marble and paint a wretched ceiling—overcomes agony and obstacles to create a divine masterpiece . . .

Sì certo, you’re moved by the story. I’m moved by it.