Small Cowper Madonna

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.