Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-03-04
ACTIVE PERIOD IN FLORENCE.

! ACTIVE PERIOD IN FLORENCE.
j After returning in l5Oi to Urbino. rec
SoEnZcd already as painter of rare
fnS while there for the Duke Guido
3baldo some notable pictures, such as
sthe st. Michael" the "St. George" and
Christ in The Garden of Olives" he
pwas drawn. as ii would seem, irrcsisti-
shly 10 Florence. lie went with n flat
s,cring letter from the Duchess Giovan-
.ni della Revere" His second artistic
fife commenced at this center of art in
y ta!y and at that time of the world.
}laphael is sometimes said to belong to
ithc Florence school He belonged in n
Gmorc original sense to the Umbrian
5!ionc he became the founder of the
second greater Roman school; so that
shls short life divides itself nto three
,per!ods. The second. or E'lorentine,
represents very active and growing
stime between 1904 and 1905. The great
5mastcrs Leonardo da Vinc and Mich
fael Angelo were ut the height OF their
snowcr. Raphael was especially drawn
Ito the study of the works of two Flor
;entinc painters. Masaccio and Fra Bar
ttoiommeo. different from each other,
abut both fitted To exert Il hea1thful in
siluence; while Michael Angelo. more
tdistantly viewed and guardedly APP
aproachcd. fulfilled the purpose of
tmiShtily stimulating his creative
Power. and lifting his genius into n SUBJ
elmer schcrc in which he was not Il
tcopylst. but Il rival OF the great Flor
,entinc. The frcscoes OF Masaccio in the
sCarnine Church ut Florence. with their
touches Of landscape and their large,
Tree and correct drawing of the human
form, were fresh fruits of the advance
ing Renaissance, when art had been
brought back to nature through tho
- tim l. fe.,
sic TO Raphacls observation of nature
,and OF the beauties of the created
world and humanity. lie was in his
mature Il Greell--a lover of beauty He
acknowledged his debt to Masaccio by
:cioser and more vigorous following of
inature; but he was endeared to Fra
Rartoomneo. whose gentle and mode
rate spirit was akin TO his own, and
who was master of Il solid style. Bar
5toloinneo was painter of deep deVo-
;tion. moved. it is thought. by the spir-
,itual influence of Savonarola.
I Raphael while at Florence painted
ssomc thoroughly religious pictures.
ssuch as the "Borghesc Entombment"
smarked by beauty and dignity OF de-
ds$n that was lifted out of ecclesiastic
CART, by a bolder copying OF nature and
lby the science of the Florcntine school
an perspective and the freer study of
sthe nude. His studies also in sculpture
51nd architecture showed his compre-
Thensivc search Of the harmonious rela-
i tions OF all arts and his thirst for
Knowledge in the wide realm OF art.
tHut the uncqualed grace and sweetness
3were all his own.
q This Elorentine period was n wonder
9fully prolific one. Most Of his loveliest
gmadonnas were painted at this time,
3including the Madonna del Gran
3Duca," the "Ansidei Madonna" and
s''La Eella Giordlniera." The "Madon-
.FlI
1is said, to Fra Bartolommeo's hand,
3and the painting was aftcrward COM
jpleted rather awlwardly by Ghirlan-
3dajo. Raphael in his ardent march on
4was careless of fame, seeking to at
5tain loftier heights and despising the
Js,eps he had already mounted.
4 Note.-The study of Raphael will be
yconcluded on Saturday next.
I The above is the first installment In
sthe HOME STUDY CIRCLE"
sCOURSG in THE WORLDS GREAT
4 ARTISTS." which will be published
gin the Virgnian-Pilot every Saturday
flor seventeen weeks.
! COURSES or INSTRUCTION.
I Spring Term, 1899
4 Sunday-Pooular Studies in Euro
3pean History.
! Tuesdays Worlds Great Com
jmerciai Products
i Wednesday, Governments of tho
NWorld of To-day.
] Thursdays and Fridays-Popular Stu
,siies in Literature.
!! Saturdays The Worlds Great Ar
3,ists.
i These courses will continue until June
;s2G. 1859. Examinations will be held at
'S;helr close as basis for the granting
,Sof certificates.
q 'Muntz's Life of Raphael"