Raphael

Titian, Rubens, Velasquez, Guido, and other great masters are here represented. During the French occupation the books, 30,000 in number, were removed to Madrid, but were sent back by Ferdinand minus 10,000 volumes. The Escurial was partly burned in 1671, when many MSS. were destroyed. It was pillaged by the French in 1808 (when the books were removed) and in 1813. It was restored by Ferdinand VII., but the monks, with their revenues which supported it, have long since disappeared, and the building, which from its situation requires to be kept in repair at considerable expense, has fallen into. Some decay, though repairs are executed from time to time. On Oct. 2, 1872, it was struck by lightning, and was in consequence seriously injured by fire. The monastery portion of it is now a seminary.