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What New York museum is hosting a massive exhibition dedicated to the Renaissance artist Raphael, featuring over 200 works, opening in March 2026?

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The Metropolitan Museum of Art - current events illustration
The Metropolitan Museum of Art — current events

The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City is currently hosting a monumental exhibition dedicated to the Italian Renaissance master Raphael, titled "Raphael: Sublime Poetry." This groundbreaking show, which opened on March 29, 2026, marks the first comprehensive international loan exhibition on the artist ever presented in the United States. It offers an unparalleled opportunity for American audiences to delve into the extraordinary career of one of art history's most revered figures.

The exhibition is truly massive in scale, bringing together an impressive collection of 237 works, including 33 paintings and 142 drawings by Raphael. These pieces, encompassing paintings, drawings, and tapestries, have been gathered from public and private collections across Europe and the United States, with many rarely seen treasures on display together for the first time. Visitors can trace Raphael's artistic journey from his beginnings in Urbino, through his influential period in Florence where he worked alongside Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo, to his culminating years in Papal Rome.

Raphael, born Raffaello di Giovanni Santi in 1483, is a cornerstone of the High Renaissance, celebrated for his harmonious compositions, masterful use of color, and profound emotional depth in his works. While his contemporaries Leonardo and Michelangelo have often overshadowed him in recent popular imagination, this exhibition at The Met aims to firmly re-establish Raphael's rightful place as an equal titan of the era. The sheer breadth and quality of the works on view provide a fresh perspective on his genius, highlighting his innovative approaches to portraiture, religious subjects, and architectural design, and underscoring his lasting impact on Western art.