Madonna della Grazie

1503

Leaves Venice for Treviso

The young Lotto left Venice, where he would have had to compete with Giorgione, Palma the Elder (Vasari calls Lotto his friend) and Titian, and moved to prosperous Treviso (he is first recorded there as a painter in 1503–1504). Little is known of his training: Bellini's influence is clear, but Bellini was not his teacher; an apprenticeship with Alvise Vivarini is possible.

1506

Invited to Recanati by the Dominicans

Within a few years Lotto had made a considerable name, and the Dominican friars invited him to Recanati in the Marche. He would keep his ties with the order to the end of his days.

1508–1510

Summoned to Rome to decorate the papal apartments

Lotto caught the eye of the papal architect Bramante, who was passing through Loreto, and was invited to Rome to decorate the papal apartments in the Vatican; he worked there with Sodoma and Bramantino, wars in the north kept him from going home, and by other accounts he stayed in Rome in 1509–1512. The paintings were soon destroyed; some accounts say it was to make room for Raphael, others that it was possibly because of Lotto's imitation of Raphael.

1513

Wins a competition and moves to Bergamo

In a competition of sorts among painters, the Dominicans of Bergamo chose Lotto for the high altarpiece of their church of Santi Bartolomeo e Stefano. So began the calmest and most fruitful years of his life: commissions came from wealthy merchants, educated professionals and local aristocrats, and he developed the psychological portrait that reveals the sitter's thoughts and emotions.

1552

A lay brother of the Holy House at Loreto

Always a deeply religious man, Lotto joined the Holy House sanctuary at Loreto as a lay brother and decorated its basilica of Santa Maria. Other accounts place him in Loreto from as early as 1549.

1556

Died