Matthias

1508–1520 · Luogo di lavoro

Rome

1515

Prefect of the antiquities of Rome

Raphael was given powers as Prefect over all antiquities unearthed in Rome or within a mile of it: finds had to be reported to him within three days, and inscriptions could not be destroyed without permission. He wrote to the pope proposing ways to halt the destruction of ancient monuments and a survey to record them all.

1515

An exchange of works with Albrecht Dürer

Raphael gave Albrecht Dürer one of his drawings, and the German master sent him his self-portrait in return; its fate is unknown.

1520

His last illness and a fatal bloodletting

Vasari blamed Raphael's death on debauchery, but modern researchers attribute it to a respiratory illness with high fever. A medical error proved fatal: doctors sent by the pope misdiagnosed him and tried to bring down the fever by bloodletting.

1520

His will: the studio to Giulio Romano and Penni

In the fifteen days of his illness Raphael was composed enough to confess, receive the last rites and dictate his will: he left money for his mistress's care in the hands of his loyal servant Baviera, most of his studio to Giulio Romano and Penni, and asked to be buried in the Pantheon.

6 aprile 1520

Died