The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1868-07-19

THE DEATH 0E RAPHAEL.
The death of Raphael Sanzio, the world
renowned artist, is thus described by the
graphic letter which an eyewitness Of the
scene, the Cardinal Bibbiena, the Papal Le-
wrote to his niece, Maria di Bibbiena, to
whom Raphael was betrothed, imme-
diately after the mournful event. Raphael
died on Good Friday, April 2, 1920, at the
early age of thirty seven. By a somewhat
GOOD Friday, March Is, l4ss @ " In these sn few SR
years he had filed Europe with marvels of
painting, and won for himself undying fame.
His most celebrated works are his cartoons
and his marvellous Madonnas, chief among
in the Dresden Gallery.
As entered, ;" says Cardinal Bibbiena,
g he held in his hand few spring flowers,
which he let fall as handed him the rosary
He pressed the cross to his lips, and
liar sound, clear, but so low as to be
scarcely audible. In the sick-room found
Count Baldassare Castiglione, the good
fathers Antonio and Domenico, the painter
Giulio, and others. They had moved his
| couch to the window, which stood wide
| open. Was it the effect of the softening
light or of the near triumph Raphael had
never appeared more beautiful. His COM
plexion was more roseate, and his thought
fu!, brown -artist-eyes larger and more lu-
mlnOus than usual.
"1 told him what His Holiness had re-
quested me to say. And SO, dear Raphael
| l concluded, may the sympathy which the
highest as well as the lowest feel for you
have power to keep you long with us!
He smiled sadly.
"' You will you mustv broke in Castig-
lione. Think what a longing for art your
attainments have awakened in us. Think
of your favorite plan to rebuild classical
Rome, with it's marble palaces and temples,
its triumphal arches and picture galleriesr
Yes, desired it, replied he; and if
God had granted me longer life should
have succeeded
-"' Do you still speak, said 1, with light
reproach, as if you would never recoverT 2
not easy for me. If could describe to you
the longing which l have to retain the de-
parting day !-How my heart cherished the
last ray of the sun that fingered on the
hill How beautiful is the world, how
beautiful the faces of men! And now, to
take leave of them fOrever-to sleep with
out hope of seeing the morrowv
i "E Beloved said I, do not forget that
to-day the Saviour died, that we might
throw off this mortal life and put on i'm
mortality
"'How could forget Him from whom l
have everything ? he answered softly. But
even this mortal life was beautiful
=" There was a moments silence. Cas-
tiglione had taken Raphaers hand. Ra-
phael was looking through the open wiz
dow at the distant hills, that were lit up
with the soft glow of the setting sun. Then
| his glance wandered, evidently in the di
rectiOn of his thoughts, to the blue heavens,
where the evening star looked down quietly.
3 like messenger from the other world
shall see Dante,' he said, suddenly.
AT this moment one of those present
took the cover from Raphael's last picture
which hung on the wall opposite the couch.
I, 1t Is, as you know, an altar-picce-the
sTransfguration.' The sight of the immor-
i tai work, the dying master, the subject Of
the picture, and all the remembrances asso-
Q ciated Herewith, overpowered us, and we
wept aloud.
:, ellis features began to change quickly
: nection, though in significant phrases.
Twice we heard those words of Plato
Great is the hope and beautiful the prize y
y ne mentioned your name, too, and begged
that you would lay your hand on his
s head. = The painter Giulio threw him
d self on the couch, and wept in agony.
asked the others to kneel- with me and to
G pray for the dying.
"Once again Raphael revived, and, sup
:, ported by two friends, arose and looked
u comes the sunshinc? murmurcd he.
o 5" Raphael cried l, and extended both
: hands toward him, do you recognize me 2
:! For a moment it seemed as if he had
Y not heard me, then he spoke again, and tAt
IT holy calm of his expression, in spite of the
n death struggle, bore testimony to his words
a Happy
!, " lie did not speak again, but it was full
IS night when a voice broke through the long
is stiffness: Raphael is dead'"
He who is false to present duty breaks :
thread in the loom and will find the flaw
when he may have forgotten it's cause.
To THE CATHOLICS nE NEW ORLEANS