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Leonardo, Michelangelo and Raphael :
Three geniuses at the center of the world

Between 1513 and 1516, three “super stars” of the Renaissance art world were brought together in Rome: Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo and Raphael. What are they doing in The Eternal City? How do they coexist? What rivalries oppose them? “1513, Rivalry in Rome” tells the story of this golden age of the Renaissance, through these three personalities and their unique artistic journeys.

The Roman stay of Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo and Raphael marks the peak of the Renaissance. At the court of Popes Julius II and Leo X, these three geniuses created masterpieces admired worldwide. But what do we really know about their relationships?

In 1513, the young Raphael, then busy creating the frescoes of the Stanze (Raphael’s Rooms), experienced a meteoric rise at the pope’s court. Michelangelo is a man in the prime of life, an adored sculptor but a tormented personality. He has just completed the decoration of the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, a colossal work which earned him the qualifying term of “Divine”. Between them, competition reaches its peak. Would Michelangelo be jealous of the talents of his rival and his Sistine Madonna? At this time, struggling with the Tomb of Pope Julius II which he himself described as “the tragedy of his life”, the artist also experienced a certain disgrace…

Will the arrival in Rome of Leonardo da Vinci exacerbate this competition? Aged 61, he is at the peak of his fame: he is a star. But an aging star… Leonardo brings with him his masterpieces in progress. While working on the Mona Lisa and the Saint John the Baptist, the sfumato of which he constantly improved, he immersed himself in new studies and secret projects.

Only The School of Athens (Scuola di Atene) by Raphael has captured for eternity the fleeting meeting of the three Masters. Let’s go behind the scenes of this moment of grace in the history of art, which fostered unprecedented artistic emulation, between shared inspiration and rivalries.

A 52min documentary for ARTE France
Produced by Simone Harari Baulieu and Laurent Robert Thibierge
In association with Beaux Arts & Cie
Directed by Constance Colonna-Cesari
Co-written by Jacques Le Roux and Florian Metral