A bouquet of wildflowers on Raphael's tomb: this is how MiBACT celebrates the 500th anniversary of his death

The MiBACT today opened the celebrations for the 500th anniversary of Raphael Sanzio ’s death by carrying a bouquet of wildflowers in front of Raphael’s tomb at the Pantheon this morning, accompanied by the children’s message of hope, “Everything will be all right” written on paper flowers.

A video with contributions from renowned experts and scholars on Raphael centered on the theme of love was aired on MiBACT’s Youtube channel for the occasion: from Barbara Jatta, director of the Vatican Museums, to Eike Schmidt, director of the Uffizi, to writer Melania Mazzucco, from restorer Antonio Forcellino to art historian Marco Ciatti, director of the Opificio delle Pietre Dure in Florence, to Marzia Faietti and Matteo Lanfranconi, curators of the Raphael exhibition at the Scuderie del Quirinale, from art historian Claudio Strinati to Mario De Simoni, director of the Scuderie del Quirinale. An intimate and passionate account of their personal and professional relationship with the “divine painter.”

In addition, with a tweet the MiBACT recalled the anniversary by flanking the image of the bouquet of wildflowers on the tomb with some verses from Raphael’s Sonnets: “tal che tant’ardo che ne mar ne fiumi/ spegnier potrian quel focho, ma non mi spiace/ poiché ’l mio ardor tanto di ben mi face/ ch’ardendo ognior più d’arder me consumi.”

The celebrations will continue throughout the day with a series of digital initiatives on social media and MiBACT’s YouTube channel.

A bouquet of wildflowers on Raphael's tomb: this is how MiBACT celebrates the 500th anniversary of his death

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