The Metropolitan Museum of Art has opened “Raphael: Sublime Poetry,” the largest survey dedicated to the Renaissance master in the U.S., featuring 33 paintings and 142 works on paper. The exhibition includes loans from 60 public institutions across 11 countries, as well as private loans from billionaire Leon Black, and the estimated aggregate value of the art on view is in the billions of dollars. Curated by Carmen Bambach, the show took eight years to organize and follows her previous triumphs on Leonardo and Michelangelo.
This exhibition matters because it demonstrates the unparalleled financial and institutional power required to mount a blockbuster Old Masters show in the 21st century, as noted by dealer Robert Simon: “Only the Met could do such a show.” The logistical feat of securing loans from major museums like the Louvre, Uffizi, and Prado, combined with private collectors, underscores the Met’s unique position in the art world. It also highlights the diplomatic and scholarly effort behind major museum exhibitions, with Bambach’s vision shaping how Raphael’s career is understood by the public.