April 7.--The day of the birth, and also that of the death, of Raffaello
Sanzio da Urbino, whom the universal voice of posterity has recognized
as the Prince of modern Painters, and designated by the enthusiastic
appellation of “the divine Raphael.” No rival, at least, has ever been
placed beside Raphael except Michael Angelo. Of the two illustrious
contemporaries the former may perhaps be appropriately styled the
Shakspeare, the latter the Milton of Painting. Dignity and imposing
grandeur of design are the reigning characteristics of Michael Angelo;
the highest dramatic power which has ever been displayed by the pencil,
and the representation of passion with all the force of life, are the
qualities that chiefly give their wonderful fascination to the works of
Raphael. Raphael was born at Urbino in 1483. By the time he had reached
the age of twenty-five he had so greatly distinguished himself that he
was invited by Pope Julius II. to paint in fresco the chambers of the
Vatican. From this time till his death, in 1520, at the early age of
thirty-seven, he was employed in the execution of a succession of great
works, chiefly for that pontiff and his successor, Leo X. His most
famous performances are, his picture of the School of Athens in the
Vatican, the Transfiguration, and his Cartoons on subjects taken from
the Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles, which were brought to this
country by Charles I., and are now to be seen at Hampton Court, upon the
payment of a shilling for each party. Like Michael Angelo, Raphael was
an architect as well as a painter, and, among other buildings,
superintended the erection of part of the cathedral of St. Peter’s. But
his untimely death interrupted his prosecution of this and other great
works on which he was engaged; leaving him, however, although with a
glory gathered in comparative youth, with no living superior, and
followed by no equal in succeeding times.
April 10.--This is the birth-day of the celebrated Dutch writer, Hugh de
Groot, better known by his Latin name of Grotius, who was born at Delfft
in 1583. Grotius was a prodigy of youthful talent and acquirement. When
only fourteen he prepared an edition of a Latin author, Martianus
Capella, in which he showed extensive classical and historical
erudition. At the age of sixteen, having already made a journey to
France, and been presented to Henry IV., who honoured him with the gift
of his picture and a gold chain, he entered upon the profession of an
advocate at Delfft. From this time he continued till his death to take
an active part in political transactions; but still found leisure to
write a vast number of books, most of them distinguished for their
learning and ability. The book by which he is now principally known is
his famous treatise on the law of nations, entitled, ‘On the right of
Peace and War.’ It was first published at Paris in 1625. Another of his
productions, which is still very popular, is his treatise ‘On the Truth
of the Christian Religion,’ written, like the former, in Latin, but
which has been translated into every language of Europe. Grotius wrote a
great part of this work while confined by a rival political faction in
the castle of Louvestein, from which, however, after nearly two years’
detention, his wife contrived to get him conveyed away in a chest, which
she pretended was full of books. Grotius died in his sixty-third year,
on the 28th of August, 1645.
April 11.--The birth-day of the late Right Honourable George Canning,
who was born in London, in the year 1771. His father, an Irish gentleman
of good family, died the same year in which his son was born. At the
usual age young Canning was sent to Eton, where he soon distinguished
himself by the brilliancy of his talents. While there he made the first
public trial of his literary powers in ‘The Microcosm,’ a very clever
periodical work, which he carried on in conjunction with some of his
schoolfellows, and of which he was the projector and the editor. In 1787
he removed to Christ Church, Oxford, intending to adopt the profession
of the law. But while yet at the University, his reputation for ability
obtained for him the notice of Mr. Pitt, who brought him into Parliament
in 1793. Mr. Canning’s official career belongs to the history of his
country, and especially that period of it during which he was Secretary
of State for Foreign Affairs. The system of foreign policy with which
his name is associated has caused his memory to be held in honour; and
although he opposed Parliamentary Reform, as well as other popular
measures, yet his steadfast support of Catholic Emancipation for a long
series of years, and the protection he afforded to the cause of freedom
on the Continent, and in South America, are proofs of his attachment to
his celebrated toast of “_Civil and Religious Liberty all over the
World!_” In April, 1827, he was appointed Prime Minister by George the
Fourth, and continued to hold the offices of First Lord of the Treasury
and Chancellor of the Exchequer till his death, on the 8th of August in
the same year, at the Duke of Devonshire’s villa at Chiswick, after a
short illness. His death at so early a period after his accession to
power called forth a deep feeling of grief in his own country, and,
perhaps, a still stronger and more general feeling on the Continent,
where medals were struck in memory of the British Minister.
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