Lentorama 2007: The Non-Canonized Catholic Person of the Day

Today's person is Italian Renaissance master and turle namesake Raphael, who was both born on and died on this day, both of which were, like today, Good Friday. On the less holy side of things, Georgio Vasari claimed that his death at age 37 came about when he developed a fever after a night of "excessive" lovemaking with a woman named Margherita who was the subject of La Fornerina, and not wanting to tell that to doctors was given the wrong cure, which killed him. I don't know which I find more amusing, Vasari's explanation of Raphael's illness or the idea that any of the usual 16th century cures would have done anything but hasten the artist's demise.

And even though he died young, Raphael left behind an expansive body of work. He's best known for painting, of course, but also worked as an architect and provided designs for some early engraved prints.