Beyond his celebrated Madonnas, the exhibition seeks to recontextualize his work through a social and historical lens, incorporating materials that address motherhood and high infant mortality during the Renaissance, challenging the idealized interpretation that prevailed for centuries.

With significant loans from institutions such as the Louvre, the Uffizi, and the National Gallery of Washington, the exhibition also includes recent findings, such as the reattribution of certain drawings to Raphael himself.

Overall, the Met aims to update the artist’s image for contemporary audiences, moving him away from a purely decorative perception and restoring complexity to his place within the canon of Western art.

The exhibition will be on view at the Metropolitan Museum of Art from March 29 to June 28, 2026.