DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.61022#0117
RAPHAEL AT ROME
his patron’s the general scheme of subject which makes this room
the first of the monuments to Papal glory. The room was com-
pleted in 1514, and the chamber on the other side of the Segna-
tura was given to Raphael to decorate. Thus Leo’s arrival
forced the pace of Roman life. Nor was it enough to hasten the
completion of rooms which doubtless Leo wished to occupy at
the earliest possible moment. Another and far greater work was
given to Raphael. A few days before Leo’s accession Bramante,
the architect to whom Julius had entrusted his great scheme of
the rebuilding of St. Peter’s, died, leaving the works barely
begun. Within a fortnight of Leo’s accession Raphael, who had
been the unofficial associate of all Bramante’s plans, and the
sharer in his ideas, was appointed his successor. This commission
was confirmed in August, a salary of 300 ducats being assigned
to Raphael,1 and, later, two assistants, Gian Barile and the old and
learned scholar Fra Giocondo, were given to Raphael for the work.
Raphael found himself thus suddenly a prince among the
artists of Rome. He describes the change in his fortunes, in one
of his simple and familiar letters2 written on the 1st July 1514, to
his uncle Ciarla, to whom he had written before from Florence.
He began with an excuse for not writing earlier on the ground
that he had nothing to say, but now even he considered that there
were events worthy of communication. He says that he was glad
not to have married the girl whom Ciarla had decided upon for
him, or any other, because marriage would only have stood in his
way. At that moment he valued his property in Rome at 3000
ducats, with receipts of 50 scudi. He had his salary as architect
of St. Peter’s, and the new stanza will bring him 1200 ducats.
For other works he set his own price. Besides this, the Cardinal
of Santa Maria in Portico (Bibbiena) was arranging a marriage
between him and his niece; and other ladies, one of whom had a
dowry of 5000 scudi and a house worth more than 100 ducats,
1 Passavant, i. p. 505; Fea, Notizie, pp. 9 and 13 and documents there quoted.
2 Passavant, i. p. 499—from Pungileoni, Raphael Santi, p. 158.
95
his patron’s the general scheme of subject which makes this room
the first of the monuments to Papal glory. The room was com-
pleted in 1514, and the chamber on the other side of the Segna-
tura was given to Raphael to decorate. Thus Leo’s arrival
forced the pace of Roman life. Nor was it enough to hasten the
completion of rooms which doubtless Leo wished to occupy at
the earliest possible moment. Another and far greater work was
given to Raphael. A few days before Leo’s accession Bramante,
the architect to whom Julius had entrusted his great scheme of
the rebuilding of St. Peter’s, died, leaving the works barely
begun. Within a fortnight of Leo’s accession Raphael, who had
been the unofficial associate of all Bramante’s plans, and the
sharer in his ideas, was appointed his successor. This commission
was confirmed in August, a salary of 300 ducats being assigned
to Raphael,1 and, later, two assistants, Gian Barile and the old and
learned scholar Fra Giocondo, were given to Raphael for the work.
Raphael found himself thus suddenly a prince among the
artists of Rome. He describes the change in his fortunes, in one
of his simple and familiar letters2 written on the 1st July 1514, to
his uncle Ciarla, to whom he had written before from Florence.
He began with an excuse for not writing earlier on the ground
that he had nothing to say, but now even he considered that there
were events worthy of communication. He says that he was glad
not to have married the girl whom Ciarla had decided upon for
him, or any other, because marriage would only have stood in his
way. At that moment he valued his property in Rome at 3000
ducats, with receipts of 50 scudi. He had his salary as architect
of St. Peter’s, and the new stanza will bring him 1200 ducats.
For other works he set his own price. Besides this, the Cardinal
of Santa Maria in Portico (Bibbiena) was arranging a marriage
between him and his niece; and other ladies, one of whom had a
dowry of 5000 scudi and a house worth more than 100 ducats,
1 Passavant, i. p. 505; Fea, Notizie, pp. 9 and 13 and documents there quoted.
2 Passavant, i. p. 499—from Pungileoni, Raphael Santi, p. 158.
95