The Annunciation

1500

Called a master at seventeen

In December 1500 Raphael is first described as a “master”, that is, fully trained. His first documented work was the Baronci Altarpiece for the church of Saint Nicholas of Tolentino in Città di Castello, commissioned in 1500 and finished in 1501; only fragments survive.

1501

In Perugino's workshop

From 1501 Raphael studied and worked in Pietro Perugino's workshop in Perugia; according to Vasari, his early works cannot be told apart from his master's. He often travelled home to Urbino, to Città di Castello and, with Pinturicchio, to 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”.

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”.

1508

Moves to Rome at the invitation of Julius II

The new pope, Julius II, invited Raphael to Rome, perhaps at the suggestion of his architect Bramante, a distant relative of the artist. Unlike Michelangelo, kept waiting for months after his summons, Raphael was immediately commissioned to fresco what was to become the pope's private library, a far larger commission than any he had had before.