Art Movement: High Renaissance

Early Life Raphael, whose full name is Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino, was born on April 6 or March 28, 1483, in Urbino, Duchy of Urbino. He was the son of Giovanni Santi, a court painter in Urbino. Tragically, Raphael lost his mother in 1491 and his father in 1494, leaving him orphaned at age 11.…

Early Life Piero della Francesca was born around 1415 in Borgo San Sepolcro, Tuscany. His name signifies his father’s profession as a merchant who traded in fabrics. He belonged to a mercantile family and the economic stability of his family enabled him to pursue his interests in the arts. Little is known about his early…

Early Life Titian, whose original name was Tiziano Vecellio, was born around 1488 in a small village of Pieve di Cadore, located in the Dolomite mountains, Northern Italy. He was the son of Gregorio Vecellio, a professional councilor, and his wife Lucia. Titian and his older brother Francesco soon left their hometown and moved to…

Early Life Sebastiano Mainardi was born in 1460 in San Gimignano, Italy. Not much is known about his early life, including details about his early days, family, and upbringing. He is known to have lived in this picturesque Tuscan town during the Renaissance period, making a name for himself as an Italian painter. Education Under…

Early Life Andrea Solario was born in Milan, Italy around 1460. His family was not wealthy, but they were respected craftsmen and professionals. His father, Cristoforo Solari, was a sculptor, while his brother, Cristoforo, was an architect. Andrea initially trained with his father and brother in the traditional Italian art of stone carving. Education Solario…

Early Life Giorgione, whose full name was Giorgio Barbarelli da Castelfranco, was born around 1477-78 in the small town of Castelfranco Veneto, near Venice, Italy. There is little known about his early life, but it is widely accepted that he was of humble origin. His nickname “Giorgione,” meaning “Tall George,” was given to him most…

Early Life Alessandro di Mariano di Vanni Filipepi, better known as Sandro Botticelli, was born in Florence, Italy around 1445. He was the youngest of four sons in his family. His father was a tanner and the family lived in Via Borgo Ognissanti in the district of Santa Maria Novella, a bustling centre for tanning…

Early Life Correggio, whose real name is Antonio Allegri, was born in August 1489 in the small town of Correggio, from which he subsequently took his name. His family was of modest background, and although not much is known about his early life, it is believed that he was taught by his father, who was…

Early Life Donato Bramante, originally named Donato di Angelo di Pascuccio, was born in 1444 in the small town of Monte Asdrualdo, now Fermignano, in the Marche region of Italy. Very little is known about Bramante’s early life. It is believed that his father was a farmer and that early in his life Bramante may…