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Da Vinci and Raphael are two of the oldest brush houses still making watercolor brushes by hand, one in Germany and one in France, and the da Vinci vs Raphael brushes question comes up every time a watercolorist is ready to move past student synthetics. The short version: da Vinci’s Series 36 Russian red sable rounds are the sharper, snappier tool for controlled work, while Raphael’s SoftAqua synthetic squirrel and its compact travel sets lean toward soft, high-capacity washes and painting away from the desk.
Neither brand is “better.” They solve different problems, and the right answer depends on whether you paint tight botanical detail, loose wet-in-wet landscapes, or mostly in a sketchbook on the train. Below we compare the four current Amazon listings for these brands side by side, explain what the hair type and shape actually change on paper, and recommend by painting style rather than by name.
Quick answer: For precise, controlled watercolor and gouache work, the da Vinci 5359 Russian Red Sable Round Set (Series 36, sizes 0 to 6) is the pick: natural sable with strong snap at the point. For big soft washes and skies, the Raphael SoftAqua Quill size 8 holds far more water. For sketchbook and plein air painting, the Raphael Bamboo Roll-up 6-Brush Travel Set gives you rounds, flats, a filbert and a SoftAqua mop in one roll.
Our Top Picks at a Glance
- da Vinci 5359 Russian Red Sable Round Set (Series 36) — Best for detail, illustration and controlled strokes
- Raphael SoftAqua Synthetic Squirrel Quill, size 8 — Best for large washes, skies and wet-in-wet
- Raphael Bamboo Roll-up Travel Set of 6 — Best all-round travel kit with mixed shapes
- Raphael Travel Brush Set of 4 (synthetic) — Best budget short-handle set for ink, watercolor, acrylic and oil
| Product | Best For | Key Spec | Key Strength | Price Tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| da Vinci 5359 Red Sable Rounds | Detail and illustration | 5 rounds, sizes 0/1/2/4/6, Russian red sable | Excellent snap at the point, high water holding | $$$ |
| Raphael SoftAqua Quill 8 | Washes and wet-in-wet | Size 8 quill mop, 100% soft synthetic | Very large capacity for varied stroke widths | $$$ |
| Raphael Bamboo Roll-up Set of 6 | Travel and sketchbook | Rounds 0/2, flats 0/2, filbert 1, SoftAqua mop 4 | Six shapes plus bamboo roll-up case | $$ |
| Raphael Travel Set of 4 | Budget multi-media travel | Rounds 1/3, flats 1/3, short handles, synthetic | Works with ink, watercolor, acrylic and oil | $$ |
How We Chose
This comparison is built from the Amazon listing details and specifications for each brush checked in October 2026, from how well each hair type and shape suits specific watercolor tasks, and from how widely each listing is reviewed by Amazon buyers. We have not painted with these specific sets ourselves, and we do not repeat performance claims the listings do not make.
What we weighed:
- Hair type: natural red sable versus soft synthetic squirrel versus standard synthetic, because this decides snap, capacity and price more than anything else.
- Shape range: whether a set is all rounds or mixes flats, filberts and mops.
- Handle and format: full-length studio handles versus short travel handles and a roll-up case.
- Media compatibility stated in the listing: some Raphael sets are listed for ink, acrylic and oil as well as watercolor.
- Manufacturing claims: da Vinci states handmade in Germany with nickel-plated brass ferrules and sustainable wood handles.
Da Vinci vs Raphael Brushes: What Actually Differs
Hair and feel
The da Vinci set in this comparison is Russian red sable. Sable is prized in watercolor because the hair tapers to a fine natural point, springs back after each stroke (what painters call snap) and still holds a generous load of water. Da Vinci’s listing claims “excellent snap at the point with maximum water holding capacity,” which is exactly the balance you want for crisp edges and lifted highlights.
Raphael’s SoftAqua line is a synthetic engineered to imitate squirrel hair. Squirrel-type brushes are much softer than sable, with less spring, but they carry a huge reservoir of water and release it slowly. That makes them superb for skies, backgrounds and wet-in-wet blending, and less suited to tight linework. Raphael’s travel sets use firmer synthetic fibers that the listing describes as “synthetic sable quality” with a “good balance of snap and softness.”
Shapes and sizes
Da Vinci’s 5359 set is five rounds in sizes 0, 1, 2, 4 and 6: a classic illustrator’s ladder with nothing wider than a size 6. Raphael’s bamboo set mixes two Precision rounds, two Precision flats, a filbert and a SoftAqua mop, so you get edge control and a wash brush in one case. The four-piece Raphael travel set is two rounds and two flats, and the SoftAqua quill is a single size 8 wash brush.
Where each brand is made
Da Vinci’s listing states the brushes are handmade in Germany at a family-owned factory established in 1890, with certified green manufacturing and nickel-plated brass ferrules. Raphael is a long-standing French brush maker; the listings here do not state country of manufacture, so we leave that unclaimed.
Best Da Vinci and Raphael Brushes Reviewed
1. da Vinci 5359 Russian Red Sable Round Set (Series 36) — Best for detail and illustration
This five-brush set collects the smaller end of da Vinci’s Series 36 Russian red sable rounds: sizes 0, 1, 2, 4 and 6. The listing positions them for watercolor, gouache, illustration, animation, restoration and rendering, which tells you the intended user: someone who needs a point that stays sharp through a long session of fine strokes.
Da Vinci highlights the nickel-plated brass ferrules and sustainable wood handles, and claims the brush will retain its shape. Natural sable does need more care than synthetics (rinse thoroughly, reshape, dry flat), but in return it offers a combination of spring and capacity that synthetics still struggle to match in the small sizes.
Best suited for: Botanical painters, illustrators and anyone working at sketchbook or quarter-sheet scale who values crisp edges and a reliable point over wash capacity.
Key features:
- Five round brushes: sizes 0, 1, 2, 4 and 6
- Russian red sable hair
- Series 36 handles with nickel-plated brass ferrules
- Listed for watercolor, gouache, illustration, animation, restoration and rendering
- Handmade in Germany per the listing
- Sustainable wood handles, certified green manufacturing
Pros:
- Natural sable snap and point for controlled strokes
- Covers the full small-size range in one purchase
- Durable brass ferrules and premium handles
Cons and limitations:
- No brush larger than size 6, so you still need a wash brush
- Natural hair costs more and needs careful cleaning
- Not intended for acrylic or oil
Buying consideration: If most of your painting is detail work, this set replaces four or five separate purchases. Pair it with a single large mop (the Raphael quill below is a natural partner) and you have a complete watercolor kit.
2. Raphael SoftAqua Synthetic Squirrel Quill, size 8 — Best for washes and wet-in-wet
The SoftAqua quill is Raphael’s answer to the traditional squirrel mop: a soft, 100% synthetic fiber in a quill-style ferrule that holds a very large volume of water and color. The listing is brief but to the point: soft fibers, varying brush strokes, and suitability for “works of art of any size.”
In practice a size 8 quill does the jobs a sable round cannot: laying a graded sky in two passes, dropping color into wet paper, and softening edges without leaving streaks. Because it is synthetic, it avoids the ethical and cost concerns of real squirrel while being easier to rinse clean.
Best suited for: Landscape and loose floral painters, anyone working at half-sheet or larger, and painters who want one brush for washes to complement a set of detail rounds.
Key features:
- Size 8 quill mop
- 100% soft synthetic fiber (squirrel imitation)
- Quill-style ferrule
- Designed for varied stroke widths from a single brush
- Listed for works of any size
Pros:
- Huge water and pigment capacity
- Soft enough for wet-in-wet without disturbing underlayers
- Synthetic: easier care and no animal hair
Cons and limitations:
- Little snap, so not suited to fine line work
- Single brush, not a set
- Listing gives few technical details
Buying consideration: Think of this as the one big brush that completes a kit of small rounds. If you already own a large wash brush you like, a sable round set will add more to your range.
3. Raphael Bamboo Roll-up Travel Set of 6 — Best for travel and sketchbook painting
This is the most complete of the Raphael listings: Precision Round 0 and 2, Precision Flat 0 and 2, Precision Filbert 1, and a SoftAqua Mop 4, all rolled into a bamboo mat. The listing describes a high paint load, a good balance of snap and softness, and says the set is ideal for travel and outdoor painting.
The mix is thoughtful. The two flats give you crisp edges on buildings and horizon lines, the filbert softens them, the rounds handle detail, and the small SoftAqua mop handles sky and ground washes at sketchbook scale. The bamboo roll keeps bristles from being crushed in a bag, which is the usual way travel brushes die.
Best suited for: Urban sketchers, plein air watercolorists and students who want one case with a complete shape range rather than a handful of loose brushes.
Key features:
- Six brushes: Round 0, Round 2, Flat 0, Flat 2, Filbert 1, SoftAqua Mop 4
- High paint load per listing
- Balance of snap and softness
- Bamboo roll-up case included
- Intended for travel and outdoor painting
Pros:
- Widest shape variety of any set here
- Protective roll-up case
- Includes a small mop for washes
Cons and limitations:
- Sizes are small, suited to sketchbooks rather than large sheets
- Fiber type for the Precision brushes is not fully specified
- Mid-tier price for synthetic brushes
Buying consideration: Buy this if you paint on location more than at a desk. If you mostly work indoors on larger paper, the da Vinci rounds plus a quill will serve you better than six small travel brushes.
4. Raphael Travel Brush Set of 4 (synthetic) — Best for budget multi-media travel
Raphael’s four-piece travel set is the simplest option here: Round 1, Round 3, Flat 1 and Flat 3 in 100% synthetic fibers with short handles. The listing calls the fibers “synthetic sable quality” and lists ink, watercolor, acrylic and oil as suitable media, which makes it the most versatile set in this comparison.
Because the fibers are a firmer synthetic rather than soft squirrel-type, these brushes will stand up to acrylic and gouache better than the SoftAqua line. The short handles are made for sketchbooks and small pans, not for standing at an easel.
Best suited for: Mixed-media sketchers, students who switch between ink, acrylic and watercolor, and anyone who wants a low-cost Raphael set to try before investing in sable.
Key features:
- Four brushes: Round 1, Round 3, Flat 1, Flat 3
- 100% synthetic fibers
- Short handles for travel
- Listed for ink, watercolor, acrylic and oil
- Synthetic sable quality per listing
Pros:
- Lowest cost of the four listings
- Works across water media and oil
- Compact for pencil cases and pochade boxes
Cons and limitations:
- No mop or wash brush
- Only two shapes
- Short handles limit easel use
Buying consideration: This is the sensible first Raphael purchase if you are unsure about brand feel. If you only paint watercolor, the six-piece bamboo set adds a filbert and a mop for not much more.
Buying Guide: How to Choose Between Da Vinci and Raphael
Match hair type to your painting style
Sable (da Vinci Series 36) for control and crisp edges; synthetic squirrel (Raphael SoftAqua) for soft washes and capacity; standard synthetic (Raphael travel sets) for versatility across media. Most watercolorists end up with a mix, so decide which gap you are filling first.
Decide how big you paint
The da Vinci set tops out at size 6 and the Raphael travel sets are smaller still. For quarter-sheet and larger work you will want the size 8 quill or a bigger wash brush. For sketchbooks under 9 x 12 inches, the travel sets are properly scaled.
Studio or on location
Full-length handles balance better at an easel; short handles and a roll-up case survive a backpack. If you paint both ways, buy the da Vinci rounds for home and a Raphael travel set for the bag rather than compromising on one set.
Which media you use
Only the Raphael four-piece set is listed for acrylic and oil. Never put red sable into acrylic: the paint dries in the hair and ruins the point. Gouache is fine for both brands if rinsed promptly.
Point versus belly
A round with a fine point but small belly runs dry mid-stroke; a mop with a huge belly cannot draw a line. Da Vinci’s listing claims both snap and maximum water holding in the Series 36, which is why sable costs what it does. Synthetic rounds usually trade some belly for price.
Care requirements
Natural hair needs gentle soap, thorough rinsing, reshaping and drying flat or tip-down. Synthetics forgive neglect. If you know you will leave brushes in the water jar, buy Raphael synthetics and keep the sable money for paper.
Budget
All four listings sit in the mid to upper tiers. The Raphael four-piece set is the cheapest entry; the da Vinci sable set and the SoftAqua quill cost more because of hair type and size. Buying one excellent brush beats buying three mediocre ones.
Keep Your Brushes Working
Whichever brand you pick, longevity comes down to care. If a new brush drops hairs, read how to keep paint brushes from shedding before blaming the maker. Learn how to dry paint brushes correctly so water never sits in the ferrule, and if you move up to the size 8 quill, our guide to painting with large brushes covers loading and stroke control at wash scale.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Buying a sable detail set when your real problem is streaky skies; you need a mop first.
- Using red sable with acrylic or leaving it standing in water, which destroys the point.
- Expecting a size 4 SoftAqua mop to behave like a size 8 quill; the travel mop is for sketchbook washes.
- Judging either brand by one travel set; the travel synthetics and the sable studio lines are different products.
- Storing travel brushes loose in a pencil case without the roll-up; bent tips rarely recover fully.
- Choosing by price alone; a single good brush you use daily is worth more than a set that stays in the drawer.
FAQs
Is da Vinci or Raphael better for watercolor beginners?
A beginner usually benefits from a versatile synthetic set first. The Raphael bamboo roll-up set covers rounds, flats, a filbert and a mop, so you learn what each shape does before investing in da Vinci sable.
What is the difference between red sable and SoftAqua?
Red sable is natural hair with a fine point and strong snap. SoftAqua is a synthetic engineered to behave like soft squirrel hair: much more water capacity, much less spring. Sable is for control; SoftAqua is for washes.
Can I use Raphael brushes with acrylic paint?
The Raphael four-piece travel set is listed for ink, watercolor, acrylic and oil. The SoftAqua quill and the da Vinci red sable set are watercolor and gouache brushes and should be kept away from acrylic.
Are da Vinci brushes handmade?
The da Vinci listing states the brushes are handmade in Germany at a family-owned factory founded in 1890, with nickel-plated brass ferrules and sustainable wood handles.
Do I need both a da Vinci set and a Raphael quill?
Many painters pair them. The da Vinci rounds handle detail and the Raphael size 8 quill handles washes, which covers nearly every watercolor task without duplication.
Which set is best for plein air painting?
The Raphael Bamboo Roll-up Set of 6 is designed for travel and outdoor painting, with short handles, a protective roll and a small SoftAqua mop for skies.
Final Recommendation
Choose the da Vinci 5359 Russian Red Sable Round Set if your work depends on edges, points and control: illustration, botanicals, architectural detail. Choose the Raphael SoftAqua Quill size 8 if your paintings live or die by the quality of their washes. If you paint on the move, the Raphael Bamboo Roll-up Set of 6 is the most complete small kit here, and the four-piece Raphael travel set is the budget route for mixed media.
The honest answer to da Vinci vs Raphael is that the two brands complement each other more than they compete. Start with the brush that fixes your biggest frustration, then add the other.
