more
fortunate little boy born to more loving parents. And perhaps that,
too, is the reason he grew up with such pleasant ways and such a sweet
nature that every one who knew him loved him. It made people happy
just to be with him.

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