LILLE.- The Palais des Beaux-Arts de Lille is presenting a groundbreaking exhibition, Expérience Raphaël, offering visitors an extraordinary opportunity to witness the entirety of its Raphael drawing collection. This treasure, gifted by the painter and collector Jean-Baptiste Wicar (1762–1834), features 40 breathtakingly delicate sheets, rarely displayed due to their fragility. Complemented by renowned paintings, the exhibition traces the illustrious career of Raphael, the Renaissance genius, from his earliest commissions in 1500 to his untimely death in 1520.
Learn about Raphael’s creative process, from sketches to masterpieces.
An Augmented Journey Through Raphael’s Career
Following the success of Expérience Goya in 2021 and La Forêt Magique in 2022, this marks the final installment in the museum's augmented exhibition series. Visitors can engage with digital tools that illuminate Raphael’s creative process, exploring how his sketches evolved into monumental paintings and frescoes.
The exhibition centers on 43 graphic works from the museum’s collection, including 37 of Raphael’s own drawings. These rare pieces showcase the artist’s meticulous process, where drawings became blueprints for grand compositions. The journey also highlights Raphael’s movement through the artistic hubs of Perugia, Florence, and Rome, shaped by commissions and collaborations.
Prestigious Loans Elevate the Exhibition
In addition to its in-house collection, the exhibition boasts exceptional loans from some of the world’s most esteemed institutions, including the Louvre, the Royal Collection Trust, London’s National Gallery, Madrid’s Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza, and Perugia’s Galleria Nazionale dell’Umbria.
Restoration and Research: New Insights into Raphael’s Art
The Raphael collection underwent meticulous restoration and reconditioning for this project. With the help of the Centre de Recherche et de Restauration des Musées de France (C2RMF), scientific analyses revealed fascinating details about the artist’s materials and methods, uncovering previously unknown aspects of his creative process.
Digital and Sensory Immersion
The exhibition integrates innovative digital experiences to deepen visitors’ understanding of Raphael’s genius. A 360° film with an original soundtrack by Jean-Benoît Dunckel (of AIR) immerses audiences in Raphael’s life, from his beginnings to the 19th-century mythos surrounding him. A digital reconstruction of Raphael’s first dated work, the now nearly destroyed Pala Baronci, brings this masterpiece back to life.
Visitors can also virtually step into the "Room of the Signature" to explore Raphael’s celebrated frescoes, observing their evolution from initial sketches. A Renaissance-inspired soundscape completes the experience, inviting visitors to listen and look more deeply.
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