Poet Crowned with Laurel c. 18th century

Raphael's "Poet Crowned with Laurel" is a red chalk drawing made sometime between 1500 and 1520. During the Renaissance, artists often looked to classical antiquity for inspiration. This drawing, with its laurel wreath, evokes the art and ideals of ancient Greece and Rome. But, it does so through a specific lens. In Renaissance society, poetry and the arts were highly valued as expressions of humanism and intellectual achievement. As such, artists often depicted poets and other cultural figures as symbols of enlightenment. The poet's gaze is cast downwards, embodying the weight of thought and creativity. The laurel wreath, traditionally associated with victory and honor, marks the poet's cultural importance. While honoring intellectual achievement, this work also tells us something about the cultural values of its time. The drawing reflects the Renaissance emphasis on male accomplishment and the relative exclusion of women from intellectual life. It invites us to reflect on who gets to be remembered and celebrated, and why.