Page:Great Men and Famous Women Volume 8.djvu/47

 RAPHAEL 225 in coloring, and Correggio in the beautiful gradation of tone ; but Raphael knew how to paint the soul ; in this he stood alone. This was the great secret of a power which seemed to operate like magic. In his paintings there is something which makes music on the chords of every heart ; for they are the expression of a mind attuned to nature, and find answering sympathies in the universal soul. While Michael Angelo was exalted with the Epic grandeur of his own Dante, Raphael presented the most finished scenes of dramatic life, and might be com- pared to the immortal Shakespeare — scenes of spiritual beauty, of devotion, and of pastoral simplicity, yet uniting a classic elegance which the poet does not pos- sess. Buonarroti was the wonder of Italy, and Raphael became its idol. Julius was so much enchanted with his paintings in the halls of the Vatican, that he ordered the frescos of former artists to be destroyed. Among them were some of Perugino's, but Raphael would not suffer these to be removed for his own ; he viewed them as the relics of a beloved and honored friend, and they were consecrated by tender and grateful feelings. Raphael collected from every part of the world medallions of intaglios and antiques to assist him in his designs. He loved splendor and conviviality, and gave offence thereby to the rigid and austere. It was said that he had a prospect of changing the graceful beretta for a cardinal's hat ; but this idea might have arisen from the delay which existed in his marriage with Cardinal Bibiano's niece, whose hand her uncle had offered to him. Peremptorily to reject this proposal of the cardinal without giving offence would have been impossible, and Raphael was too gentle in his own feelings voluntarily to injure another's ; but he was not one to sacrifice his affections to ambition. Whatever were the struggles of his heart, they were early terminated. Amid the caresses of the great, the fond and devoted friendship of his equals, the enthusiastic love of his pupils, the adulation of his inferiors, while crowned with wealth, fame, and honor, and regarded as the equal of the hitherto greatest artist in the world, he was suddenly called away. He died on Good Friday, the day of his birth, at the age of thirty-seven, 1520. We are sometimes impressed with veneration when those who have even drunk the cup of life almost to its dregs resign it with resignation and Christian faith. But Raphael calmly and firmly resigned it when it was full to the brim. Leo X. and Cardinal Bibiano were by his bedside. The sublime picture of the " Transfiguration," the last and greatest which he painted, was placed oppo- site to him, by his own desire. How impressive must have been the scene ! His dying eye turned from the crucifix he held in his hand to the glory of the beati- fied Saviour. His contemporaries speak of him as affectionate, disinterested, modest, and sincere ; encouraging humble merit, and freely giving his advice and assistance where it was needed and deserved. 15