Raphael's Portrait of a Man Illustrates Shakespeare's Sonnet 49 Perfectly

Art and literature are two mediums which often tell the same story. The two mediums pair so well that modern day artists' and authors' works often collaborate together to create books. Both the author and the illustrator are acknowledged in the work, which shows the significance of each contributor. The same connection can be found among works written and painted during The Renaissance. An example of this is the connection between Shakespeare's "Sonnet 49" and Raphael's "Portrait of a Man."

The Renaissance is considered to be the beginning of modern times. History shows that this period greatly influenced modern day society. The art and writings of the time played a large part of the change or "rebirth" of civilization. Art and literature captured people's emotion. During the Renaissance people became "more realistic and focused less on religious topics" (Dawn). Artists and authors "advanced the Renaissance style of showing nature and depicting the feelings of people" (Dawn).

The Renaissance theme in both works is one of reality and earthly living. As society moved away from the previous religious era, people began to focus on this life rather than the next. Focusing on life on earth, rather than the afterlife, brought about the harsh realities in life: Realities such as heartache, pain, sadness and struggle. Facing these realities taught people to deal with the painful moments in life.

Sonnet 49 is an example of this realistic approach to life. The poet acknowledges that there is a chance "When I shall see thee frown on my defects" (1). He is concerned about losing his love and he prepares for the possibility. He considers how he will manage "When love, converted from the thing it was" breaks his heart (7). He realizes he will have to "guard" or protect himself (12).

Raphael's "Portrait of a Man" would be an excellent illustration for Shakespeare's Sonnet. In Raphael's painting, the subject appears deep in thought. His jaw is firmly set as he looks into the distance. He is clearly thinking about something he must do, even if he is not looking forward to the task at hand. The subject is dressed in black, a color of sadness and mourning. Is he, perhaps, mourning the possibility of a lost love? His eyes suggest he is focusing on a realistic, worldly thought rather searching for divine intervention. While this portrait is not Raphael's most famous work, it is important to note that "Raphael became the most important portraitist in Rome during the first two decades of the 16th century" (Dawn). He achieved this honor because of his ability to capture "brilliant and arresting character[s]" (Dawn).

Both Shakespeare's "Sonnet 49" and Raphael's "Portrait of a Man" show the trend of the Renaissance--the trend away from focusing on religion and focusing toward life on earth and human emotion. Both works capture the universal emotion of heartache and determination.

Works Cited

Raphael. "Portrait of a Man." c1502. Web Gallery of Art. Aug. 3, 2007.

Shakespeare, William. "Sonnet 49." The Riverside Shakespeare. 2^nd ed. Boston. 1997. p.1852.

"The Dawn of a New Age." The Renaissance. Aug. 3, 2007.

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