Antonietta Raphaël
A Lithuanian Soul Forged in Roman Light
Antonietta Raphaël, a name resonating with the vibrant spirit of the *Scuola Romana*, was an artist whose life journey mirrored the tumultuous currents of the 20th century. Born in Kaunas, Lithuania, in 1895 – a land then part of the Russian Empire – she arrived into a large family, the youngest of fifteen children born to Rabbi Simon Raphaël and Katia Horowitz. This early immersion within a deep
ly religious and culturally rich household would profoundly shape her artistic vision, even as fate propelled her towards unexpected horizons. The shadow of rising anti-Semitism loomed over their lives, prompting a pivotal relocation to London in 1905. It was in England that young Antonietta’s path began to diverge, embracing musical training at the Royal Academy of Music while simultaneously nurturing a burgeoning fascination with art…
