This #netgalleyarc has been sitting on my #toberead #kindle shelf for a long time…probably since the COVID quarantine. I was finally inspired to read it since I was headed to Rome again in May. I did not have an appreciation for Raphael until I went to school in Rome and my first #arthistory professor took us around the city to see his masterpieces. In my opinion, Raphael was the better painter compared to Michelangelo and it’s too bad he died so young and did not further influence the Mannerism period. This is an interesting fictional story of Raphael’s time in Rome under the patronage of the Vatican. I like that the author asks the reader to look up all artworks mentioned in the story. This is a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read for those who love #arthistory or #renaissanceitaly.

I eagerly awaited this title after reading "Oil and Marble", and it was everything that I hoped it would be. Stephanie brings Raphael to life through all of her wonderful research, her vast knowledge of Italian Renaissance Art, and her ability to weave everything together to make an incredible story. From boyhood to the peak of his career, Stephanie was able to give us a fictional account of what Raphael's life would have been like, and what he may have been thinking or feeling while he created his many masterpieces. The highlight of this book for me, was the ability to actually look up the paintings mentioned in throughout the story so I could have them in my minds eye when I was reading. I highly recommend, and I look forward to what she writes next.

A beautiful history of the art and rivalry of the Vatican. Raphael competes against himself and Michelanglo for perfection and to be the best artist in Rome. Great book!

Really entertaining, read the book while researching for an art history essay, it helped create the atmosphere of the era.

A great historical art book that blends fact and fiction, told from the point of view of Raphael himself. We get immersed into his journey and see the world through his eyes, which the author describes in expert detail.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for letting me read an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This book was an interesting perspective on the life of the painter Raphael. The author writes with a wittiness that I wasn't quite expecting. That element alone changed the interpretation of what is oftentimes portrayed as a stuffy, formal time period. The character interactions provide an abundance of both entertainment and historical context. The commentary that takes place between Michelangelo and Raphael is in itself a reason to read this book. Delightful read.

Author #Stephanie Storey #Raphael, Painter in Rome Michelangelo’s Sistine 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 death bed 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’s Buonarroti.
When Pope Julius ll calls both artists down to Rome, they are pitted against each other:
Michelangelo’s painting the Sistine Ceiling, while 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 bakers-daughter-turned-prostitute who becomes his muse.
This book has wonderful writing,rich settings and a riveting plot,#Raphael Painter in Rome has two masters going head to head in the halls of the Vatican.Enjoy!!

Thank you to the publisher and #NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. This was a great historical fiction read. Not only did I learn more about various celebrated artists, but the immense research Stephanie Storey presented built out the political, religious, and cultural times of Raphael. The detail was so vivid that I felt fully transported as a reader. Granted, I found it difficult to stop reading and search online for every painting, place, or person as the author advises readers before they start their journey (because trust me, there is a lot of history covered), those few artistic pieces I did research proved to be masterfully painted with words in the context of the novel. I enjoyed learning how frescoes are created and understanding the struggles and time it took Michelangelo and Raphael to create their masterpieces, which are still celebrated today. The discussion on the preservation of art was certainly enlightening. I relished the relaxed tone of the book, and Storey’s exploration of the myths and assumptions of Raphael made him seem truly human.

Raphael, Painter in Rome. The title says it all. He was an amazing artist. The works of Raphael, to this day, are still considered to be some of the best of the high Renaissance.
Stephanie Storey, has captured the essence of the period in this remarkable novel.. Raphael, has never been my favorite Renaissance artist, Michelangelo holds that distinction, however, I am able to see him and his art in a new light. Through different eyes.

Storey, advices the reader to have a tablet nearby to look up the pictures as they are being described in the book. This is a wonderful bit of advise. As a reader, you will appreciate seeing the artwork while reading the story.

I loved this book, I love the characters, the time period, the art. A fantastic story from a wonderful storyteller.

Raphael, Painter in Rome is worth every minute of your precious reading time, I promise!

One of the first gifts from this author is a note which encourages the reader to read this novel with access to computer, tablet or smartphone so you have quick resources for looking up the paintings, statutes and other art mentioned, as well as finding many actual persons in history. I followed this advice and it increased my satisfaction and enjoyment by leaps and bounds. That is not to say the writing couldn't hold your attention on its own. . . it certainly does.

Raphael is writing in the style of epistles, to someone who knows him well and is interested in all the crannies of his life, yet someone who still needs background on all the areas a reader also needs in order to understand a life lived in 1520. He describes with humor his dreams and daily activities, his desire to best Michelangelo (yes, that Michelangelo), to meet and become buddies with Leonardo, and form alliances with cardinals and popes, dukes and other dukes (Medici. Yep. those Medicis). He name drops so often you need to chart it out. Sweet surprises throughout, though, made me catch my breath - the mischievous cherubs so often seen - who they are and what they were really looking at. . . .

But best of all. . .the painting. Masterful at showing how the artists think, feel and this author flows all of that energy through her words, years of research provide foundation and structure down to the smallest details. In Raphael's case it is painting, on plasters, on wood, on parchment, paper or whatever can hold the art. Orphaned early on, his desire to fulfill his father's wish that he be the greatest artist in all of history consumes him, and in that quest he studies with the masters in Florence and eventually finds himself at the Vatican, under the Sistine Chapel. . .yep. That Sistine Chapel. There watching Michelangelo, there helping, heeding, hindering, working for and against factions in power and out of power. So delicious was this that I read it slowly. I wanted to feel every drop of that paint, catch marble dust on my tongue, and smell the history. Painterly colors consumed my imagining of this tale as it surrounded me: vermilion, carmine, saffron, ultramarine, emerald, lapis, lemon, indigo, moss, sienna. . . .

And the last gift? An impressive Epilogue, and another very helpful Author's Note, generously pointing to other books that an interested reader can seek out for more information, and which also helps a novice know what really was fiction and what of the tale is truly historical.

I look forward to any future works by this author, and am happy to see this is not her first, and there is more to find on Leonardo and Michelangelo in her body of work.

My rating? All the stars possible, sprinkled liberally with Rafa's sprezzatura!

My sincere thanks to Stephanie Storey, Arcade Publishing, and NetGalley for providing me an ARC to read and review.

Rating: 5 glowing, pigment drenched stars

“Raphael, Painter in Rome” is another fantastic work of historical fiction about Italian art written by Stephanie Storey. I thoroughly enjoyed her earlier book, “Oil and Marble” which told the tale of DaVinci and Michelangelo. Therefore, I was thrilled when I received an Advanced Readers Copy of her latest work. This story centers on Raphael Santi of Urbino (1483-1520). It is a story of the art of early 16th century Italy, especially art sponsored by the Vatican. Raphael narrates his own story. He’s a bit of cheeky narrator, which I liked.

We follow Raphael as he travels around Italy learning first from his father, and then from great masters in Florence. In Florence is influence by DaVinci’s work, and he is intimidated by Michelangelo. A few years later, he ventures to Rome to try to get a commission from Poe, Julius II. As the story goes, the Pope loves a good competition so he pits Raphael against Michelangelo. Even though Michelangelo is grudgingly painting the Sistine Chapel, he would much rather be creating the Pope’s tomb. His passion is sculpting, not painting. In the course of the competition, Raphael completes an amazing room of frescoes in what was intended to be the Pope’s study. The painting of each wall gets him closer to his ultimate goal of painting the perfectly composed scene.

The competition is the basis for much of the drama in this easily accessible story about art history. It is history about painting, sculpting and architecture. We encounter all sorts of secular and church characters who inhabit all levels Roman society. The encounters provide background and depth to the centerpiece of what life was like for these artists. The author once again captured my imagination, and kept me turning pages as if I was reading a thriller. I have been lucky enough to see many of the works described in the book in person on my travels in Europe. The book’s descriptions of the artwork more completely filled in my memory of the colors and shapes of the works that I viewed.

This is not a dry accounting filled with dates and places. I laughed at the points when Raphael would turn and talk to the reader directly; asking questions that in all likelihood, we wouldn’t know the answers to. It made me feel more connected to the humanness of Raphael. As he narrates his actions, he clearly has OCD, which adds to the accessibility of his character. Even as I suspect these details are an artistic license taken by Ms. Storey, they do not bother me.

This book was educational and entertaining. ‘Brava’, to the author. I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in learning more about Italian Renaissance art or society.

‘Thank-You’ to NetGalley; the publisher, Skyhorse Publishing, Arcade; and the author, Stephanie Storey for providing a free e-ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve always been drawn to historical fiction in any form so this was just my speed.

Having taken many art history courses in undergrad as a visual arts major, I was proud of myself for knowing most of the pieces mentioned without having to reference them. I’m always a fan of being transported into a story through even the tiniest of details and this did just that. I loved being taken for a ride through the creation process of these known pieces as well as exploring the cities in both the habitants and architecture. This also had a unique tone that I really appreciated. It’s not rare that I read novels from a first person perspective, but so many parts of this felt as if Raphael was actually speaking to me while recounting this story, which was great.

If I had any issues at all, it would be with the back half. Not to say that I wasn’t connected to story as much as in the first half, but there seemed to be more of a focus on the war aspect of the time period, which isn’t something I usually gravitate to with my reading selections.

Overall, this was a great blend of history and art that brought to memory why I appreciate art as much as I do.

Thanks to NetGalley and Skyhorse Publishing for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

What a lovely charming book, narrated in the first person by Rafael himself. I loved the way it creatively reconstructed the painting of the "Rafael Rooms' in the Vatican and of his rivalry with Michelangelo during the painting of the Sistine cieling.

Very easy to read, I loved this book.

Stephanie Storey has done it again! Raphael, Painter in Rome is such a beautiful work of historical fiction. She manages to transport you back to Italy in the golden age of art. I just can't get enough of her, and I can't wait to see what she writes next.

A love letter to the Renaissance and to Italy. ❤️ What a fun trip through the history of some of the brilliant, beautiful art still on display! I enjoyed reading more about Raphael, his works, his colleagues, and the politics during his lifetime. Thanks to Netgalley for a copy.of this novel.

Rating: 3.5/5

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for letting me read an advance reader copy of this book in exchange for my unbiased review.

If you are a lover of art then this book was written for you! I have a master's degree in art history with a focus on Italian Renaissance art and thought the book was okay, but I'll admit I do not think I am the intended audience for this book. Raphael, Painter in Rome is written in the style of the Ross King books, where it reads like a novel. The language of the narrator, Raphael, is very modern so it is quick to read. Many different artworks of Raphael and his contemporaries are mentioned and described for the non-expert, as well as many different terms. I could see assigning this book to my students as a fun, informative way to get them interested in Raphael and other Renaissance artists. The book really makes strong connections between artworks and gives the technical details of creating artworks in a way that would be very informative for a non-expert.

Although I wouldn't call it a thriller, I did find it was a quick read and there were many events that happened in the story that I wanted to keep reading to find out what happened next. It was interesting to see how the artists all intertwined in each other lives as well as the competition between Michelangelo and Raphael.

The one thing that really took away from the narrative of the story for me was the questions that Raphael asked the reader directly. These questions were primarily asking whether or not the reader could guess a work, person, or family that he was describing. It made the book feel more like a letter instead of a novel, but I had no idea to whom the letter was addressed. In some places it seemed a bit condescending. Beyond that I actually enjoyed the modern attitude of Raphael, and am curious to read the other book by this author to see how it compares.

Enjoyable historical fiction. Do take the author’s advise and take the time to look up mentioned artworks.

Raphael Santi of Urbino was one of the premier painters in 16th century Rome, if not the best. He had promised his father, the painter who was also his first teacher, that he would paint the perfect painting to become the greatest painter in the world. Unfortunately, he had to contend with his chief rival from Florence, Michelangelo Buonarroti.

Raphael narrates his story and periodically “breaks fourth wall” to talk to the reader as if he’s carrying on a conversation with a friend. The book serves as a fictional biography, art history, Renaissance history and keeps the reader engaged at all times. The author recommends that the reader have access to the internet to find more information on the artists, art works, and people mentioned in the story. I found her advise enriched my enjoyment of a highly enjoyable the book. You don’t need to be an art expert to find the book absorbing, but I bet you will be more interested in Renaissance art when you’ve finished reading it.

I receive a copy of this book from NetGalley. The opinion is my own.

I received this book from Netgalley for review and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
This is an art history thriller, full of intrigue and facts. Written in the first person narrative, we hear a plausible dialogue of Raphael and Michelangelo 's conflict with each other, Rome, the Vatican and the workings within the political realm around the artistic ventures of the time period. Ambition, fear of imperfection, loneliness, conspiracy and murder make this an interesting read, though not one I find to be a favorite.
Recommended for artists, historians, historical fiction lovers.

This is a fun book set in the gorgeous, cultural & artistic renaissance era.
I loved the writing style however it was a tad long for me.
Beautifully written nonetheless.
Thank you to Netgalley for the eArc in exchange for an honest review.