Michelangelo, Leonardo, Raphael
Florence, c. 1504
9 November 2024 - 16 February 2025
The Gabrielle Jungels-Winkler Galleries | Burlington Gardens
Friends of the RA go free
At the turn of the 16th century, three titans of the Italian Renaissance – Michelangelo, Leonardo and Raphael – briefly crossed paths, competing for the attention of the most powerful patrons in Republican Florence.
On 25 January 1504, Florence’s most prominent artists met to advise on an appropriate location for Michelangelo’s nearly finished David. Among them was Leonardo da Vinci, who – like Michelangelo – had only recently returned to his native Florence.
Starting with Michelangelo’s celebrated Taddei Tondo, this exhibition explores the rivalry between Michelangelo and Leonardo and the influence both had on the young Raphael.
See some of the finest examples of Italian Renaissance drawing, including Leonardo’s Burlington House Cartoon and the studies by Leonardo and Michelangelo for their murals commissioned by the Florentine government for the newly constructed council hall in the Palazzo Vecchio.
Exhibition organised by the Royal Academy of Arts, London, in partnership with Royal Collection Trust and the National Gallery, London.
There are additional security measures in place for this exhibition including bag checks, which may delay your entry. Find out more or contact us for more information.
We are closed from 24 to 26 December. On 1 January we are open from 12 to 6 pm.
Download our large print guide.
#RAFlorence
Reviews
"a testament to staggering genius”
The Standard
"the nearest thing to a miraculous artistic resurrection"
The Times
"A fascinating meeting of Renaissance titans"
The Telegraph
The Guardian
The Observer
Supporters
Supported by
Christian Levett and Musée FAMM
Jake & Hélène Marie Shafran and The Magic Trust
David and Molly Lowell Borthwick
With additional support from
Kathryn Uhde
Rosemary Lomax-Simpson
Gallery
The Virgin and Child with the Infant St John the Baptist (The 'Taddei Tondo'), c. 1504-05
The Virgin and Child with St Anne and the Infant St John the Baptist ('The Burlington House Cartoon'), c.1506-08
David, c. 1505-08
A Rearing Horse, c. 1503-05
The Virgin and Child with the Infant St John the Baptist ('The Esterhazy Madonna'), c. 1508
Studies of Male Heads, Helmets for Soldiers and Facial Features, c.1504-05
Male Nude (recto), c. 1504-05
Buy the audio guide
Stephen Fry narrates our exhibition audio guide which plays on your own phone.
Start here: Florence c. 1504
Discover the stories behind the key artworks in our latest exhibition.
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Buy the exhibition catalogue
Take the exhibition home with you and find out more about three titans of the Italian Renaissance.
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