
RaphaelItalian, 1483–1520May one see it?
London, United Kingdom
The owner is known. Whether it is on view today, the museum does not say, and we were not trained to guess.
The Ansidei Madonna (Italian: Pala Ansidei) is a 1505–1507 painting by the Italian High Renaissance artist Raphael, painted during his Florentine period. It shows the Blessed Virgin Mary sitting on a wooden throne, with the child Christ on her lap. On her right John the Baptist stands, on her left Saint Nicholas is reading.
At the time the painting was commissioned, there were other paintings that made up the grouping for the altarpiece. Of the predellas, the only that remains is Saint John the Baptist Preaching, the others are inexplicably lost.
Both the main painting, "Ansidei Madonna", and the predella "Saint John the Baptist Preaching", are located at the National Gallery in London.
c. 1503 – c. 1504 · Workplace
Siena
late 1504
Meets Leonardo and Michelangelo
Having moved to Florence, Raphael met Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo and Bartolomeo della Porta and closely studied Leonardo's sfumato. His first Florentine commission, portraits of Agnolo Doni and his wife, was painted under the clear impression of the “Mona Lisa”.
1504
Friendship with Baldassare Castiglione
In Urbino Raphael met the philosopher, writer and patron Count Baldassare Castiglione; they formed a firm friendship and correspondence, including the famous letters about the fresco “The Triumph of Galatea”.
October 1504
To Florence, to study
The mother of the next Duke of Urbino gave Raphael a letter of recommendation to the Gonfaloniere of Florence: “The bearer of this will be found to be Raphael, painter of Urbino, who, being greatly gifted in his profession has determined to spend some time in Florence to study.” She called him “a sensible and well-mannered young man”.
c. 1504 – c. 1508 · Workplace
Florence
1507
Meets Donato Bramante
Raphael met the architect Donato Bramante, by an unproven account his relative. Bramante became his adviser and patron and later recommended him to Pope Julius II as the best candidate for work in the Vatican.