went again to Urbino, which had become a very important city under the
reign of Duke Guidobaldo. The king of England, Henry VIII., had sent to
this duke the decoration of the Order of the Garter. In return for this
honor, the duke sent the king rich gifts, among which was a picture of St.
George and the Dragon by Raphael.

While at Urbino, at this time, he painted his first classic subject, the
"Three Graces." Soon after, he returned the third time to Florence, and
now held much intercourse with Fra Bartolommeo, who gave the younger
artist valuable instruction as to his color and drapery. In 1508, among a
great number of pictures he painted the madonna which is called "La Belle
Jardiniere," and is now one of the treasures of the Louvre. The Virgin is
pictured in the midst of a flowery landscape, and it has been said that a
beautiful flower-girl to whom Raphael was attached was his model for the
picture. This picture is also a landmark in the history of Raphael, for it
shows the perfection of his second manner, and the change that had come
over him from his Florentine experience and associations. His earlier
pictures had been full of a sweet, unearthly feeling, and a color which
could be called spiritual was spread over them; now his madonnas were like
beautiful, earthly mothers, his colors were deep and rich, and his
landscapes were often replaced by architectural backgrounds which gave a
stately air where all before had been simplicity. His skill in grouping,
in color, and in drapery was now marvellous, and when in 1508 the Pope,
who had seen some of his works, summoned him to Rome, he went, fully
prepared for the great future which was before him, and now began his
third, or Roman manner of painting.

This pope was Julius II., who held a magnificent court and was ambitious
for glory in every department of life--as a temporal as well as a
spiritual ruler, and as a patron of art and letters as well as in his
office of the Protector of the Holy Church. He had vast designs for the
adornment of Rome, and immediately employed Raphael in the decoration of
the first of the Stanze, or halls of the Vatican, four of which he
ornamented with magnificent frescoes before his death. He also executed
wall-paintings in the Chigi Palace, and in a chapel of the Church of Santa
Maria della Pace.

With the exception of a short visit to Florence, Raphael passed the
remainder of his life in Rome. The amount of work which he did as an
arch