In his Life of Raphael, Giorgio Vasari attributed to the artist “the brightness and splendour of those virtues that make men immortal … all the rarest qualities of the mind, accompanied by such grace, industry, beauty, modesty, and excellence of character.” Sir Joshua Reynolds praised Raphael for his “simple, grave, and majestic dignity.” On the occasion of the 500th anniversary of Raphael’s death in 1520, the National Gallery, in an intimate exhibition, pays special attention to the aesthetic standards set by the artist’s meticulous depictions of form. Four important drawings by Raphael are placed among work by fellow artists he influenced. Five of his paintings are on view. —E.C.