In some of Raphael’s paintings, buildings appear that share similarities with structures designed by Bramante. This research examines the lives of both Bramante and Raphael, with a specific question: To what extent did Bramante influence both Raphael’s paintings and architectural design?
To answer this question, a comparison is made between works from Bramante and Raphael. The works that have been compared are St. Peter’s and The School of Athens, and Tempietto and The Marriage of the Virgin.
The findings suggest that Raphael incorporated Bramante’s design for St. Peter’s into his fresco The School of Athens. However, despite the similarities between The Marriage of the Virgin and the Tempietto, there is no evidence that Raphael drew inspiration from the Tempietto for his painting.
After Raphael arrived in Rome, Bramante had some influence on his work. As the chief architect of Rome, Bramante’s architectural designs served as a source of inspiration for Raphael, who studied and analysed these buildings, incorporating their elements into his paintings and designs. The use of the dome, the Greek cross, and niches, which appear in the painting The School of Athens, were inspired by the design of St. Peter’s. This indirect influence of Bramante shaped Raphael’s architectural style.