Kimball enterprise. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1883, 1883-06-08
Raphael.

IL WAS lOur centuries ago on the 6th OF
April, that Raphael Sanzlo, the greatest
of the worlds painters, was born at
Urbino, not very far from Rome. On
this recent anniversary, the event was
marked by imposing ceremonies in the
Eternal City.
Pilgrims tlocked from every direction
to do honor to the memory Of the
wonderful youth who painted the "Sis-
tine Madonna" and the "Transfigura-
ton" The notibilities of Rome went in
procession, and did homage to his genius
at the masters tomb in the Panethon.
Music. flowers and poems were lavished
in tribute to the natal day; the tradition
al enthusiasm of Rome for its heroes was
once again stirred to its depths.
1t is not too much to say that Raph.
ael Sanzio is still at four centuries dss-
the world OF art. His power as an art
ist, as a contributor to the enduring
beautiful things of the earth, is even
greater to-day than on the day when, at
the ear ly age of thirty-seven, he ceased
to ply the brush and was laid to his rest
in the noble temple of the Pantheon.
No artist before him had reached the
summit of artistic achievement; and in
four centuries, during which artists of
genius in many lands have spread their
lottiest inspirations upon canvas, it is
safe to assert that no one of them has
risen to rivalship in fame with Raphael.
While the records of the career of this
great man are meagre, we know that he
spent life which, if brief, was bright,
prosperous and honored. He began to
paint before he was twenty; and his
genius plainly showed itself even in his
earliest works.
Like nearly every artist of his time,
Raphael chose his subjects almost exclu-
sively from the Bible. or from the ira
ditlons of the Roman Church. Probably
the reason of this in those times was
that the church was the most generous
patron of the arts. The cathedrals and
sanctuaries were to be adorned with
pictures; vt was necessary part of their
decoration; The church was rich, and
paid high prices for the best works; and
many an artist grew rich under it's NUM-
tlcent patronage.
So it was that before Raphael was
thirty, he had become rich man. He
was the pet of Popes and Cardinals, and
lived in luxury at Rome, having also
his villa in the country. So great a ia
Noilte WIS llc, lnuceu, al tuS Tapal court,
that it is said that Pope Leo X. at one
time had the idea of creating Raphael a
Cardinal
All accounts agree that Raphael pos.
sessed, both as q youth and as man,
remarkable personal beauty and grace.
He was greatly beloved of women; but
he never married. He was absorbed in
his art; the canvas received the outpour-
ing Of his great and ardent soul.
No one can justly estimate what Rap
heal has done to stimulate and ennoble
the art Of which he was supreme and
almost perfect master. Truly he was the
Shakespeare of painting; and his infu-
ence may be as surely traced in the pro.
gress and elevation of painting as that Of
Shakespeare can be seen in al literature
since his day.
It is we'll, therefore, that Raphael
Sanizio should lie in august repose be-
meath the dome Of the most ancient ed
itice OF Rome-the Pantheon; the only
edifice of the time Of the Roman Repub-
Tic which still stands intact in the his
toric city. And well isit that men should
remember and honor the anniversary of
the day which brought into the world a
genius at once SO splendid and so bene-
ticent.