Raphael Santi
Self-Portrait with a Friend—also known as the Double Portrait or Raphael and His Fencing Master—is a late work by Raphael. The figure on the left has long been believed to be Raphael himself, an identification already made in a 16th-century print, though scholars continue to debate whether it is truly a self-portrait.
The identity of the man standing in front of him remains uncertain. Earlier writers described him as Raphael’s fencing master, since his hand rests on the hilt of a sword, but modern historians tend to see him as a close friend or perhaps one of the artist’s assistants. Possible candidates include Giulio Romano or Polidoro da Caravaggio, both members of Raphael’s workshop, though other suggestions have been proposed over time.
Like many works from Raphael’s final years, parts of the painting were likely completed with the help of studio assistants. The picture once belonged to Francis I of France and, in earlier centuries, was even attributed to other artists before being firmly recognized as a work from Raphael’s circle.
P.S. You can explore more masterpieces from this rich artistic period in our Italian Renaissance 50 Postcards Set, featuring works by Raphael and other great masters of the Renaissance.
P.P.S. Here are 12 famous self-portraits you should know! If you want to read more stories on Raphael, see the articles below.