ested in the excavations of ancient
Rome, and made immense numbers of drawings of various sorts. As a sculptor
he made models and designs, and there is in the Church of Santa Maria del
Popolo, in Rome, a statue of Jonah sitting on a whale, said to have been
modelled by Raphael and put into marble by Lorenzetto Latti.

Raphael was also interested in what was happening outside the world of
art; he corresponded with scholars of different countries, and sent men to
make drawings of places and objects which he could not go to see. He was
also generous to those less fortunate than himself, and gave encouragement
and occupation to many needy men.

At one time he expected to marry Maria de Bibiena, a niece of Cardinal
Bibiena; but she died before the time for the marriage came.

While Raphael was making his great successes in Rome, other famous artists
also were there, and there came to be much discussion as to their merits,
and especially as to the comparative worth of Michael Angelo and Raphael.
At last, when this feeling of rivalry was at its height, the Cardinal
Giulio de Medici, afterward Pope Clement VII., gave orders to Raphael and
Sebastian del Piombo to paint two large pictures for the Cathedral of
Narbonne. The subject of Sebastian's picture was the "Raising of Lazarus,"
and it has always been said that Michael Angelo made the drawing for it.

Raphael's picture was the "Transfiguration," and proved to be his last
work, for before it was finished he was attacked by fever, and died on
Good Friday, 1620, which was the thirty-seventh anniversary of his birth.
All Rome mourned for him; his body was laid in state, and the
Transfiguration was placed near it. Those who had known him went to weep
while they gazed upon his face for the last time.

He had chosen his grave in the Pantheon, near to that of Maria Bibiena,
his betrothed bride. The ceremonies of his burial were magnificent, and
his body was followed by an immense throng dressed in mourning. Above his
tomb was placed an inscription in Latin, written by Pietro Bembo, which
has for its last sentence these words: "This is that Raphael by whom
Nature feared to be conquered while he lived, and to die when he died."
Raphael had also requested Lorenzo Lorenzetti to make a statue of the
Virgin to be placed above his resting-place. He left a large estate, and
gave his works of art to his pupils Giulio Romano and Francesco Penni; his
house to Cardinal Bibiena; a sum to buy a