RAPHAEL: “Portrait of a cardinal”, 1510 - oil on canvas, 79- 61 cm. - Madrid, Prado Museum

A harsh and stark portrait, consequent with the sinister reputation of the portrayed man, the cardinal Francesco Alidosi, a feared and ruthless figure who finished his days assassinated the same year in which this picture was finished. The figure of the young cardinal makes an extraordinary contrast with the dark foreground thanks to the intense illumination. The face acquires therefore an exceptional importance in spite of the small size in relation to the canvas. The intensity of the painting and the absence of artifices at the time of portraying a personage of such importance are really admirable, making of this portrait one of the great paintings of the whole history of the Art.