These pupils of the Urbinate claimed now, on their master’s death, and claimed with good reason, the right to carry on his great work in the Borgian apartments of the Vatican.  The Sala de’ Pontefici, or the Hall of Constantine, as it is sometimes called, remained to be painted.  They possessed designs bequeathed by Raffaello for its decoration, and Leo, very rightly, decided to leave it in their hands.  Sebastiano del Piombo, however, made a vigorous effort to obtain the work for himself.  His Raising of Lazarus, executed in avowed competition with the Transfiguration, had brought him into the first rank of Roman painters.  It was seen what the man, with Michelangelo to back him up, could do.  We cannot properly appreciate this picture in its present state.  The glory of the colouring has passed away; and it was precisely here that Sebastiano may have surpassed Raffaello, as he was certainly superior to the school.  Sebastiano wrote letter after letter to Michelangelo in Florence.  He first mentions Raffaello’s death, “whom may God forgive;” then says that the "garzoni" of the Urbinate are beginning to paint in oil upon the walls of the Sala de’ Pontefici.  “I pray you to remember me, and to recommend me to the Cardinal, and if I am the man to undertake the job, I should like you to set me to work at it; for I shall not disgrace you, as indeed I think I have not done already.  I took my picture (the Lazarus) once more to the Vatican, and placed it beside Raffaello’s (the Transfiguration), and I came without shame out of the comparison.”  In answer, apparently, to this first letter on the subject, Michelangelo wrote a humorous recommendation of his friend and gossip to the Cardinal Bernardo Dovizi da Bibbiena.  It runs thus:  “I beg your most reverend Lordship, not as a friend or servant, for I am not worthy to be either, but as a low fellow, poor and brainless, that you will cause Sebastian, the Venetian painter, now that Rafael is dead, to have some share in the works, at the Palace.  If it should seem to your Lordship that kind offices are thrown away upon a man like me, I might suggest that on some rare occasions a certain sweetness may be found in being kind even to fools, as onions taste well, for a change of food, to one who is tired of capons.  You oblige men of mark every day.  I beg your Lordship to try what obliging me is like.  The obligation will be a very great one, and Sebastian is a worthy man.  If, then, your kind offers are thrown away on me, they will not be so on Sebastian, for I am certain he will prove a credit to your Lordship.”

In his following missives Sebastiano flatters Michelangelo upon the excellent effect produced by the letter.  “The Cardinal informed me that the Pope had given the Hall of the Pontiffs to Raffaello’s ’prentices, and they have begun with a figure in oils upon the wall, a marvellous production which eclipses all the rooms painted by their master, and proves that when it is finished, this hall will beat