Giorgio Vasari

“ For Leonello da Carpi, Lord of Meldola, who is still living, and has attained the age of more than ninety years, he painted a picture, the colouring of which is most admirable, and the beauty of the whole work very remarkable; it is indeed executed with so much force, and in a manner so exquisitely graceful withal, that I do not think the art could possibly produce or exhibit a finer work. There is a divinity in the countenance of Our Lady, and a modest humility in her attitude, than which it would not be possible to conceive anything more beautiful. ”

“ The world received the gift of this artist from the hand of Nature when, vanquished by Art in the person of Michael Angelo she deigned to be subjugated in that of Raphael, not by art only but by goodness also. And of a truth, since the greater number of artists had up to that period derived from nature a certain rudeness and eccentricity which not only rendered them uncouth and fantastic, but often caused the shadows and darkness of vice to be more conspicuous in their lives than the light and splendour of those virtues by which man is rendered immortal ”

“ Many are without doubt of opinion that Raphael surpassed Leonardo in tenderness and in a certain natural facility, but he was assuredly by no means superior in respect of that force of conception and grandeur which is so noble a foundation in art, and in which few masters have proved themselves equal to Leonardo: Raphael has nevertheless approached him more nearly than any other painter, more particularly in the graces of colouring. ”

“ John the Evangelist, which are both in this picture, are of equal excellence. It may indeed with truth be declared that the paintings of other masters are properly to be called paintings, but those of Raphael may well be designated the life itself, for the flesh trembles, the breathing is made obvious to sight, the pulses in his figures are beating, and life is in its utmost animation through all his works. ”

“ The death of Raphael was in like manner bitterly deplored by all the papal court, not only because he had formed part thereof, since he had held the office of chamberlain to the Pontiff, but also because Leo X. had esteemed him so highly, that his loss occasioned that sovereign the bitterest grief. [179] Oh most happy and thrice blessed spirit, of whom all are proud to speak, whose actions are celebrated with praise by all men, and the least of whose works left behind thee, is admired and prized! ”

“ Truly may we say that whoever shall consider the diligence and love, the art and grace exhibited in this work, has good reason to feel astonishment, and it does indeed awaken admiration in all who behold it, not only for the expression of the heads, but for the beauty of the draperies, and in short for the perfection of excellence which it displays in all its parts. ”

“ Paphael also formed a close friendship with Lorenzo Nasi, and the latter, having taken a wife at that time, Raphael painted a picture for him, wherein he represented Our Lady with the Infant Christ, to whom San Giovanni, also a child, is joyously offering a bird, which is causing infinite delight and gladness to both the children. In the attitude of each there is a childlike simplicity of the utmost loveliness: they are besides so admirably coloured, and finished with so much care, that they seem more like living beings than mere paintings. ”

“ But in addition to this, as Raphael rightly judged, the art should be further enriched by new and varied inventions in perspective, by views of buildings, by landscapes, by a graceful manner of clothing the figures, and by causing the latter sometimes to be lost in the obscurity of shadows, sometimes to come prominently forward into the clear light; nor did he fail to perceive the importance of giving beauty and animation to the heads of women and children, or of imparting to all, whether male or female, young or old, such an amount of spirit and movement as may be suited to the occasion. ”

“ And well would it have been for many artists of our day if they had done the same, instead of pursuing the study of Michael Angelo’s works alone, wherein they have not been able to imitate that master, nor found power to approach his perfection, they would not then have exhausted themselves by so much vain effort, nor acquired a manner so hard, so laboured, so entirely destitute of beauty, being, as it is, without any merit of colouring and exceedingly poor in conception ”

“ The genius of Raphael was now exalted to heaven, and he received innumerable proofs of favour from the new pontiff, fortunate in having encountered a prince so great, and one on whom the love of art had devolved by hereditary descent. [89]
Thus encouraged, Raphael devoted himself with all his heart to the work, and on another wall of the same apartment, he represented the Approach of Attila towards Rome, and his encounter with Pope Leo III, by whom he is met at the foot of Monte Mario, and who repulses him by the power of his word alone. ”

“ Thrice blessed indeed may’st thou declare thyself, since thou hast seen thy disciples, by pursuing the footsteps of a man so exalted, acquire the knowledge of how life should be employed, and become impressed with the importance of uniting the practice of virtue to that of art. Conjoined as these were in the person of Raphael, their force availed to constrain the greatness of Julius II. and to awaken the generosity of Leo X., both of whom, high as they were in dignity, selected him for their most intimate friend, and treated him with every kind of familiarity ”

“ To Our Lady also, Raphael has imparted all the beauty which can be imagined in the expression of a virgin; in the eyes there is modesty, on the brow there shines honour, the nose is one of very graceful character, and the mouth betokens sweetness and excellence. In the vestments also, there is an indescribable simplicity with an attractive modesty, which I do not think could possibly be surpassed ”

“ To paint a figure truly beautiful, it might be necessary that I should see many beautiful forms, with the further provision that you should yourself be near, to select the best; but seeing that good judges and beautiful women are scarce, I avail myself of certain ideas which come into my mind. Whether I have in myself any portion of the excellence of art, I know not, but I labour heartily to secure it.” ↑ In the life of Michael Angelo, Vasari himself asserts that the Prophets and Sybils were painted by Raphael after the Sistine Chapel had been publicly opened. ”

“ Never has painting which purports to counterfeit the night been more truly similar to the reality than is this, which is of a truth a most divine work, and is indeed admitted by common consent to be the most extraordinary and most beautiful of its kind.
On one of the unbroken walls of the chamber, Raphael then depicted the worship of God as practised among the Hebrews, with the Ark and golden Candlesticks; here also is the figure of Pope Julius, who is driving the avaricious intruders from the Temple. ”

“ It may indeed with truth be said of Raphael here, as elsewhere, that as respects invention and the graces of composition, whatever the story may be, no artist has ever shown more skill, more readiness of resource, or a more admirable judgment than himself ”

“ But now to us, whose lot it is to come after him, there remains to imitate the good, or rather the excellent, of which he has left us the example, and as our obligations to him and his great merits well deserve to retain the most grateful remembrance of him in our hearts, while we ever maintain his memory in the highest honour with our lips. To him of a truth it is that we owe the possession of invention, colouring, and execution, brought alike and altogether to that point of perfection for which few could have dared to hope; nor has any man ever aspired to pass before him. ”

“ In the figure of the man who is receiving the child also, there is as clearly to be perceived the anxiety which he suffers in his desire to rescue it, with the fear he entertains for his OAvn life. Equally remarkable is the power of imagination displayed by this most ingenious and most admirable artist in a mother, who, driving her children before her, with bare feet, loosened vestments, girdle unbound, and hair dishevelled, bears a part of her clothing in her hands, and smites her children to hasten their flight from the falling ruins and from the scorching fury of the flames. ”

“ In the countenance of St. Peter there is evidence, that he is as a man who feels himself to be acting in a dream, and not as one awake. Equally well expressed are the terror and dismay of those among the guards, who, being outside the prison, hear the clang of the iron door; a sentinel with a torch in his hand, awakens his sleeping companions; the light he holds is reflected from their armour, and all that lies within the place which the torch has not reached is lighted by the Moon. This admirably conceived picture Raphael has placed over the window, at the darkest part of the room ”

“ The wares and treasures are already in process of being borne away, but the terror awakened by the new occurrence of Heliodorus, struck down and scourged by the three figures above-mentioned, who are seen and heard by himself alone, being only a vision, causes those who are bearing the spoils away to let all drop from their hands, while they themselves fall stumbling over each other, possessed as they are by a sudden affright and horror which had fallen on all the followers of Heliodorus. ”

“ This figure is supported by an old man in whose widely open eyes the light is reflected, he is embracing and seeking to comfort the afilicted boy, his knitted brow and the expression of his face show at once the apprehension he feels, and the force with which he is labouring to combat his fears; he looks fixedly at the apostles as if hoping to derive courage and consolation from their aspect. ”

“ In the centre of the picture and immediately beneath the Virgin, is a boy; his head is raised towards Our Lady, and he bears a tablet in his hands. It is not possible to imagine any thing more graceful or more beautiful than this child, whether as regards the head or the rest of the person. There is besides a landscape of singular beauty, and which is executed to the highest perfection in every part.
Raphael then continued his work in the chambers of the Vatican, where he depicted the Miracle of the Sacrament, or the Corporas of Bolsena, whichever it may be called. ”

“ Now any artist, who might have lost courage from believing that he had been previously throwing away his time, would never, however fine his genius, have accomplished what Raphael afterwards effected: for the latter, having so to speak, cured and altogether divested himself of the manner of Pietro, the better to acquire that of Michael Angelo, which was full of difficulties in every part ”

“ Bound with chains, that aged man is seen extended between two soldiers; the deep and heavy sleep of the guards is rendered fully manifest, as the resplendent light proceeding from the Angel illumines the darkness of night, and causes the most minute particulars of the prison to be clearly discerned: the arms of the sleepers shine so brilliantly, that their burnished lustre seems rather to belong to things real and palpable, than to the merely painted surface of a picture.
No less remarkable are the art and ingenuity displayed in another part of the same picture ”

“ There are besides vast numbers of armed men on horseback and on foot, who are seen pouring' forth from the Gate of Jerusalem, bearing the ensigns of justice in their hands, and all in attitudes of great and varied beauty. ”

“ In the last named picture, which represents the Nativity of Christ, the Virgin is covering with a veil her divine Child; [67] the expression of whose countenance is of such wonderful beauty, and his whole person so clearly demonstrates the divinity of his origin, that all must perceive him to be truly the Son of God. Nor are the attitude and countenance of the Madonna less beautiful, they exhibit the perfection of grace with an expression of mingled piety and gladness. ”

“ The dignity of those astrologers and geometricians who are drawing various figures and eharacters with the compasses on a tablet, is not to be described: among these is the figure of a youth of the most graceful beauty, who extends his arms in admiration and inclines his head, this is the portrait of Federigo, second Duke of Mantua, who was at that time in Rome. There is also a figure stooping to the ground and drawing lines with a pair of compasses which he holds in his hand ”

“ This was the power accorded to him by Heaven, of bringing all who approached his presence into harmony; an effect inconceivably surprising in our calling, and contrary to the nature of our artists, yet all, I do not say of the inferior grades only, but even those who lay claim to be great personages (and of this humour our art produces immense numbers,) became as of one mind, once they began to labour in the society of Raphael, continuing in such unity and concord, that all harsh feelings and evil dispositions became subdued and disappeared at the sight of him ”