AllMovie

From the Portrait of an Artist series comes a three-part program reappraising the work of Italian painter and architect Raphael. Raphael was one of the leading artists of the Italian Renaissance whose work, along with that of Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, and others, established a turning point in Western Civilization. For four centuries, "The Divine Raphael" was considered the greatest painter of all time. He is still considered the most widely influential artist in history. Part three of the series, Legend and Legacy, explores the far-reaching effect of this master's contributions to culture. This program examines art from throughout Europe, noting the inspirational force of Raphael's work on artists and designers such as Caravaggio, Rubens, Rembrandt, Renoir, Picasso, and others. David Thompson, former art critic for the London Times, wrote and narrated the program.