Giovan Gioseffo Santi Paintings

Giovan Gioseffo Santi, commonly known as Giovanni Santi, was an Italian painter and poet of the Renaissance, best known today as the father of the great High Renaissance artist Raphael. Born around 1435 in Colbordolo, in the Duchy of Urbino, Santi established himself in the nearby town of Urbino, which was a vibrant cultural center under the patronage of Duke Federico da Montefeltro.

Although not as famous as his son, Santi was a competent painter whose style reflects the influences of Piero della Francesca and Melozzo da Forlì. He was adept at fresco and tempera painting, contributing to the decoration of various churches and palaces in Urbino and its surroundings. His works include the frescoes in the church of San Domenico in Urbino and the altarpiece of the church of San Francesco in Urbino.

In addition to his painting, Giovanni Santi also wrote a rhymed chronicle of the Duke of Urbino which provides valuable insights into the cultural life of the court and the artistic milieu of the time. His poetry, although not as highly regarded as his painting, demonstrates his deep immersion in the humanistic culture of his day.

Giovanni Santi's death in 1494 meant that his young son Raphael was orphaned at the age of 11. It is believed that Raphael inherited not only his father's workshop but also his father’s talent and connections, which set the stage for his own illustrious career. While Giovanni Santi’s own artistic achievements may have been overshadowed by his son’s, his role in the development of the Italian Renaissance and as a progenitor of one of its greatest masters is nonetheless significant.