haughtiness, disdained any open rivalry with Raphael, and put forward the Venetian, Sebastian del Piombo, as no unworthy competitor of the great Roman painter. 5. Raphael bowed before Michael Angelo, and with the modesty and candor which belonged to his character, was heard to thank Heaven that he had been born in the same age and enabled to profit by the grand creations of that sublime genius; but he was by no means inclined to yield any supremacy to Sebastian: he knew his own strength too well. 6. To decide the controversy, the Cardinal Giulio1 de Medici, afterward Pope Clement VII., commissioned Raphael to paint this picture of the Transfiguration, and at the same time commanded from Sebastian del Piombo the Raising of Lazarus, which is now in our National Gallery. Both pictures were intended by the cardinal for his cathedral at Narbonne, he having lately been created Archbishop of Narbonne. 7. Michael Angelo, well aware that Sebastian was a far better colorist than designer, furnished him with the cartoon for his picture, and, it is said, drew some of the figures (that of Lazarus, for example) with his own hand on the panel; but he was so far from doing this secretly, that Raphael heard of it, and exclaimed joyfully, "Michael Angelo has graciously favored me, in that he has deemed me worthy to compete with himself, and not with Sebastian." But he did not live to enjoy the triumphs of his acknowledged superiority, dying before he had finished his picture, which was afterward completed by the hand of Giulio Romano. 8. During the last years of his life, and while engaged in painting the Transfiguration, Raphael's active mind was employed on many other things. He had been appointed by the Pope to superintend the building of St. Peter's, and he prepared the architectural plans for that vast undertaking.4 9. He was most active and zealous in carrying out the Pope's project for disinterring and preserving the remains of art 1 Giulio (joʻle o). 2 Car'di nal, one of the princes of the Church who constitute the Sacred College, and by whose votes the Pope is elected. 'Ar'chi těct'u ral, pertaining to the art of building. 4 Un' der tak'ing, an enterprise. 5 Dis'in terʼring, taking out of the earth. which lay buried beneath the ruins of ancient Rome. A letter is still extant1 addressed by Raphael to Pope Leo X., in which he lays down a systematic,2 well-considered plan for excavating by degrees the whole of the ancient city; and a writer of that time has left a Latin epigram3 to this purpose-that Raphael had sought and found in Rome "another Rome." "To seek it," adds the poet, "was worthy of a great man; to reveal it, worthy of a god. 10. He also made several drawings and models for sculpture, particularly for a statue of Jonas, now in the church of Santa Maria del Popolo. The beautiful group of the Dead Child and the Dolphin is also attributed to him. Nor was this all. With a princely magnificence, he had sent artists at his own cost to various parts of Italy and into Greece, to make drawings from those remains of antiquity which his numerous and important avocations prevented him from visiting himself. 11. He was in close intimacy and correspondence with most of the celebrated men of his time; interesting himself in all that was going forward, he mingled in society, lived in splendor, and was always ready to assist generously his own family and the pupils who gathered round him. 12. The Cardinal Bibbie'na offered him his niece in marriage, with a dowry of three thousand gold crowns; but the early death of Maria di Bibbiena prevented this union, for which it appears that Raphael himself had no great inclination. In possession of all that ambition could desire, for him the cup of life was still running over with love, hope, power, glory—when, in the very prime of manhood, and in the midst of vast undertakings, he was seized with a violent fever, caught, it is said, in superintending some subterranean 5 excavations, and expired after an illness of fourteen days. 13. His death took place on Good Friday (his birthday), April 6, 1520, having completed his thirty-seventh year. Great was the grief of all classes, unspeakable that of his friends and 1 Exʼtant, still in existence. 2 Sys' te mǎt' ic, proceeding according to regular method. 3 3 Ep'i grăm, a short poem, treating only of one thing, and ending with some lively and ingenious thought. 4 An ti' qui ty, ancient times; former ages. 5 Sub'ter rā'ne an, lying beneath the surface of the earth. scholars. The Pope had sent every day to inquire after his health, adding the most kind and cheering messages, and when told that the beloved and admired painter was no more, he broke out into lamentations on his own and the world's loss. 14. The body was laid on a bed of state, and above it was suspended his last work, the glorious Transfiguration. From his own house, near St. Peter's, a multitude of all ranks followed the bier in sad procession, and his remains were laid in the church of the Pantheon, near those of his betrothed bride, Maria di Bibbiena, in a spot chosen by himself during his lifetime. MRS. JAMESON.1 III. 48. THE MARTYDROM OF ST. AGNES. ALM she stood, 2. An ivory statue, yet instinet with life, So stately was that gently breathing form, Of grace and diguity so perfect, yet With all youth's pliant softness. On her brow, White as the ocean pearl when first the waves, 3. Her flossy hair was colored like the sun, 1 Mrs. Anna Jameson, an Irish authoress, born in Dublin, May 19, 1797; died in London, March 17, 1860. She was a very voluminous writer, principally on subjects connected with art, in which she had an inherited interest, her father, Mr. Murphy, having been an artist of no mean ability. 2 In stinct', animated; moved. 3 In form' ing, giving life to; animating. Soft, paly whiteness of the maiden moon. 4. A young and princely Roman knight drew near, He spake; "oh ! dost thou shun my clasping arms, 5. The virgin answered not, nor seemed to hear, Low murmuring music broke: "O Thou my Lord! Hast Thou not placed Thy signet? on this hand She smiled a heavenly smile; and then she knelt, 1 Pageantry (păj'ant ry), a spectacle; a show. 2 Lic'tors, Roman officers who carried axes and rods as badges of their office, and whose duty it was to apprehend and punish criminals. Her golden tresses, parted for the blow, 6. An instant, and the dazzling gleam of steel "IT SECTION XIV. I. 49. GARACONTIE PART FIRST. T was a fine thing for the white man that Columbus discovered Aměrica; but, Uncle George, it was a sad thing for the Indians. See how we have acted toward them! They have lost all their broad hunting-grounds. Their chiefs are no longer respected, and they are treated as if they had no souls. and no rights. If I were an Indian, I should wish that Columbus had never sailed from the port of old Palos, in Spain." 2. "If you were a pagan Indian, Edward, you might wish this; but certainly no Catholic Indian would do so for a moment. I will tell you a true story of one Indian chief which will make this easier for you to comprehend. 3. "The French Jesuits of Canada had founded a mission among those fierce tribes in the State of New York known as the Five Nations. They were called the proudest and the most eruel of all the Indian tribes, but they were also very wise. In fact, they were justly characterized as the Romans of the West. 4. "The first missionary to these people was the martyr,2 The Sea of Glass, an allusion his vision, before the throne of God. to "the sea of glass like to crystal" 2 Mar'tyr, one who dies for the which St. John the Apostle saw in true faith. |