April 6, 2020

Today, April 6, marks 500 years since the death of the Italian painter Raphael in 1520. Raphael was one of the greatest and most influential painters of the Italian Renaissance. His graceful figures and skillful compositions influenced artists up to the early 1900′s. The period of his activity is called the High Renaissance. Raphael painted altarpieces, frescoes (paintings on damp plaster) of historical and mythological scenes, and portraits. His most popular works include his gentle paintings of the Madonna and Child. Raphael was also an architect. From 1514 until his death, he directed the construction of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.

Raphael’s School of Athens shows a gathering of ancient Greek philosophers and scientists in a Roman architectural setting. Standing in the center are Plato, left, and Aristotle, right. The harmony and balance of the composition are typical of the revival of classicism in the period called the High Renaissance. Credit: Fresco (1510-1511); The Vatican, Rome (The Art Archive)

To mark the quincentenary (500th anniversary) of Raphael’s death, the National Portrait Gallery at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., is running an exhibition called “Raphael and His Circle” from February 16 through June 14. (Unfortunately, all museums at the Smithsonian Institution were closed temporarily beginning in March because of the COVID-19 pandemic.) The exhibition includes 26 prints and drawings by Raphael’s contemporaries—his “circle”—as well as four drawings by the master himself. In Italy, the Galleria Nazionale delle Marche ran a Raphael exhibition in the artist’s hometown of Urbino from October 2019 to January 2020. Other Raphael tributes are taking place at the Scuderie del Quirinale in Rome, the Veneranda Biblioteca Ambrosiana in Milan, and at the National Gallery and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

The Prophets Hosea and Jonah by Raphael. Credit: The Prophets Hosea and Jonah (1510), pen and brown ink with brown wash over black chalk, heightened with white and squared for transfer on laid paper by Raphael; National Gallery of Art

Raphael was born in Urbino on March 28 or April 6, 1483. His real name was Raffaello Sanzio. His father served as court painter to the Duke of Urbino. About 1494, Raphael went to Perugia to study with Perugino, an important painter. Perugino introduced Raphael to the latest ideas in Italian art and greatly influenced his student’s style.

Raphael settled in Florence in 1504. In Florence, Raphael studied the paintings of the great Italian artist Leonardo da Vinci. Leonardo da Vinci’s balanced compositions and idealized figures had a strong influence on all Renaissance painters, including Raphael.

Late in 1508, Pope Julius II asked Raphael to work for him in Rome. Julius wanted to rebuild and redecorate Rome to reflect its ancient glory. He gathered together the most illustrious architects, painters, and sculptors from all parts of Italy. Raphael created his finest work while in the service of Julius and his successor, Pope Leo X. With the assistance of a large workshop, Raphael produced religious paintings, tapestry designs, palace decorations, and portraits. He died in Rome at age 37 on April 6, 1520, after a short illness.

December 9, 2015

Pope Francis yesterday marked the beginning of the Jubilee of Mercy by opening the Holy Door of Saint Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City. The door usually is bricked over between Jubilees, holy years when the consequences for sinning are thought to be lessened or cancelled. The current Jubilee, which began on December 8 and will end Nov. 20, 2016, is dedicated to the themes of mercy and forgiveness. Its start coincided with the feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary, as well as the 50th anniversary of the end of Vatican Council II, a council of bishops that enacted progressive reforms in the Roman Catholic Church.

The Holy Door is the northern entrance at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. It is bricked over and only opened for Jubilee years in Vatican City. Credit: © Alexander Mazurkevich, Shutterstock

Tens of thousands of people gathered in Saint Peter’s Square to mark the event, which followed a Roman Catholic Mass. Prominent attendees included Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, Italian President Sergio Mattarella, Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, and members of Belgium’s royal family. The event took place in an atmosphere of extra security, including a no-fly zone, in the wake of deadly terrorist attacks in Paris on Nov. 13, 2015.

Opening the Holy Doors of Rome’s cathedrals during Jubilees has been a Roman Catholic tradition for hundreds of years. Passing through the doors gives a person an indulgence, a freeing from punishment for sin. Jubilee years historically have drawn many pilgrims to Rome. In 2015, Pope Francis introduced a new practice. Cathedrals and other places of worship outside Rome were allowed to designate Holy Doors so that more Catholics could participate in the Jubilee at home. During the December 8 Mass at the Vatican, Pope Francis said of the Holy Door: “To pass through the Holy Door means to rediscover the infinite mercy of the Father who welcomes everyone and goes out personally to encounter each of them.”

Since being elected pope in 2013, Francis has fostered the idea of a church that is less judgmental and more forgiving, open, and understanding. For the Jubilee, Francis planned to send specially chosen priests throughout the world as “missionaries of mercy” to forgive even serious sins ordinarily forgivable only by the Holy See (office of the pope). Francis also authorized parish priests to absolve (declare free from sin) women who have had an abortion, though the church still considers abortion a serious sin.

Jubilees have their origin in Jewish tradition from Biblical times. The Christian tradition of Jubilees dates back to 1300. The last Roman Catholic Jubilee was held in 2000.

Additional World Book articles:

• Religion (1933) – A Back in Time article
• Religion (1934) – A Back in Time article
• Roman Catholic Church (2001) – A Back in Time article
• Roman Catholic Church (2014) – A Back in Time article

March 13, 2013

Cardinals vote beneath the painted ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, completed by Michelangelo between 1508 and 1512. (Detail of a fresco (1509); SCALA/Art Resource)

Cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church entered the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City,  yesterday to begin the conclave—the process of voting for a new pontiff, or pope. The word conclave is from the Latin for a room that may be locked. After a special mass, the monsignor running the conclave announces “Extra omens,” Latin for Everyone out. The voting cardinals are then locked into the Sistine Chapel. Cardinals have attended the conclave in the Sistine Chapel since 1492.

Of the more than 200 men in the College of Cardinals, the group that votes for a new pope, only 115 were eligible to vote in 2013. Cardinals who were age 80 or older on the day that Pope Benedict XVI resigned, February 28, 2013, may not vote in the conclave.

Before they enter the conclave, the cardinals swear an oath of secrecy about the proceedings. Cardinals caught breaking the oath are excommunicated. In addition, in 2013, the chapel was carefully checked for listening devices and devices that jam electronic communication were installed.

In 1268, cardinals took nearly three years before finally choosing Gregory X as pope. Since the early 1900′s, however, no conclave has lasted more than a few days.

After the first day of the conclave, the cardinals vote four times per day until two-thirds of them have agreed on a candidate. The vote is taken on paper ballots, and after the ballots are counted they are burned. The smoke rising from the chimney of the chapel indicates to the outside world whether a new pope has been chosen. Chemicals are added to the ballots to make the smoke appear black or white. Black smoke indicates that no candidate won the election. White smoke issued from the chimney announces the election of a new pope.

The election of a pope is announced to the outside world by white smoke emerging from a chimney atop the Sistine Chapel. (Francois Lochon, Gamma/Liaison)

Once a pope is chosen, he has a little time to pray and choose his new name. Then, he dons his new robes. Because the papal tailors do not know who will next wear these robes, they provide a complete set of  clothing and shoes in different sizes.

When the pope is ready, he makes his first appearance to the world from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica.

Additional World Book articles:

• Pope
• Vatican City

Another website of interest:

• Vatican: The Holy See