Gregory), when the latter, having prayed for the people, who were suffering from a raging pestilence, beheld the celestial messenger sheathing his sword, in token of cessation from further destruction.[1]
At a later period, and when the above-named Crispo had been made a Cardinal, he despatched Raffaello several times to Bolsena, at which place he was building a palace; but no long time elapsed before the master resigned his appointment at the Gastello Sant’ Angelo, and abandoned the service of Cardinal Crispo likewise. He then received a commission from the most Reverend Cardinal Salviati, and from Messer Baldassare Turini, of Pescia, to execute the statue of Pope Leo X., which is now over the tomb of that Pontiff, in the church of the Minerva, at Rome;[2] having completed which, he was further appointed by the same Messer Baldassare to erect the tomb of the latter, in a chapel which he had built, of marble,[3] in the church of Pescia. For one of the chapels in the church of the Consolazione in Rome, he also executed three marble figures in mezzo-rilievo; but being disposed rather to the life of a philosopher than that of a sculptor, and delighting in the quietude of retirement, Raffaello then withdrew to Orvieto. He there undertook to superintend the erection of Santa Maria, a fabric in which he made many improvements; and in this place he remained many years, becoming old before his time.[4]
I am of opinion that Raffaello would have produced more and better performances in art, if he had undertaken works of more importance, as he very well might have done; but he was too gentle and diffident; he had a great aversion to all conflict, and contenting himself with the little which fate had provided for him, he suffered many opportunities for
- ↑ Bottari has a remark to the effect that the statue executed by Raffaello having been much injured by time, but more especially by lightning, was replaced by a figure in bronze, erected in the last century by the able master in foundry, Giordani, but a German writer informs us that the model of this statue was prepared by the Dutch sculptor, Verschaffelt.
- ↑ For details relating to the monuments of Leo X. and Clement VII. the reader is referred to Gaye, Carteggio inedito, vol. ii.
- ↑ This is considered to be the best work of Raffaello.
- ↑ The office of inspector and architect to the Cathedral of Orvieto is an important one, remarks the Padre della Valle, which is never bestowed on any but first-rate masters. See Storia del Duomo d’Orvieto.
