Raphael's father taught him how to mix paints, and showed him how to wash and care for his brushes. He gave him his first lessons in drawing and painting. Raphael's mother died when he was only eight years old, but he had a stepmother who was very good to him indeed, and helped him all she could. A few years later his father died, and so it was through the help of a generous uncle that he was sent to the studio of the great artist, Perugino, to study. The artist-teacher was very fond and very proud of Raphael, whose work soon became even better than his own.
Raphael was never jealous or unkind toward others who did things better than he could do them. And he made those who could not do so well as he feel kindly toward him and be glad of his success. He did all he could to help poor artists, and was never too busy to see them. Whenever he went to court to see the king and queen he was just like a prince in a fairy story. About fifty of these poorer artists and friends always went with him to show everybody how much they loved and admired him. It was just like a parade.
One day the Pope—Pope Julius—sent for him and told him that he wanted him to paint some good pictures on the walls of four of the rooms in his palace, the Vatican. On these walls pictures had been painted which the Pope did not like, and he thought Raphael would know just what to do to make his palace the most beautiful in the world. Raphael worked very hard, for he wanted to please the Pope. Many of the pictures had to be painted on the ceilings, and he had to lie flat on his back on a large board placed across two ladders. You may be sure he grew very tired.
Some days he took long walks in the country. It was when returning from one of these long walks that he painted the "Madonna of the Chair." He painted over forty Madonnas. This Madonna is seated in a chair, and that is why it is called the "Madonna of the Chair," or "Madonna della Sedia." Most of his paintings are of stories told in the Bible. He painted over two hundred eighty-seven pictures. The artist's last name was Sanzio, but people have always called him by his first name, Raphael.
Questions about the artist. Who painted this picture? What kind of a boy was he? Why did people like him? Who taught him to draw and paint? Who else helped him? What happened when he went to see the king and queen? What did the Pope ask him to do? How did he paint the ceiling? Where did he like to walk? How did he happen to paint this picture? What kind of pictures did he usually paint? How many Madonnas did he paint? How many pictures all together?
MISS BOWLES
Artist: Sir Joshua Reynolds (rĕn´´ŭldz).
Birthplace: Plympton, Devonshire, England.