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Andrea del Sarto

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Andrea del Sarto was a master Italian painter from Florence.

Casa di andrea del sarto 01
Casa di andrea del sarto 01

He lived during the High Renaissance and the early Mannerism period. His name literally means "tailor's son." This was because his father, Agnolo, was a tailor. Andrea was a highly skilled artist in many areas. He was a great fresco decorator, which is a painter of wall murals. He also made altarpieces, portraits, and drawings. He was especially famous for his skill as a colorist. This means he used color to create beautiful effects. During his life, people highly respected his talent. They even gave him the nickname "Andrea senza errori." This means "Andrea without fault."

Andrea del Sarto, Birth of the Virgin, 1509-10, SS Annunziata, Chiostrino dei Voti, Florence
Andrea del Sarto, Birth of the Virgin, 1509-10, SS Annunziata, Chiostrino dei Voti, Florence

Andrea's training began with many different crafts. In 1494, he started as an apprentice to a goldsmith. Later, he worked for a woodcarver and painter named Gian Barile. He stayed with Barile until 1498. He also studied under artists like Piero di Cosimo and Raffaellino del Garbo. Eventually, Andrea and his friend Franciabigio opened a joint studio. They worked together in a lodging in the Piazza del Grano. Their first major project was a monochrome fresco series. Monochrome means using only one color for the painting. This series included the "Baptism of Christ" for the Compagnia dello Scalzo. Through this partnership, Andrea developed his own unique style. His work became known for its natural emotion and atmosphere.

Between 1509 and 1514, Andrea worked on a large project for the Servite Order. He painted seven frescoes in the atrium of the Basilica della Santissima Annunziata.

Andrea del Sarto, S Filippo Benizi's Death and Child restored to Life, 1509f, SS Annunziata, Chiostrino dei Voti, Florence
Andrea del Sarto, S Filippo Benizi's Death and Child restored to Life, 1509f, SS Annunziata, Chiostrino dei Voti, Florence

Five of these paintings showed the life and miracles of Saint Filippo Benizzi. These scenes included the saint healing a leper and a possessed girl. He also painted a "Procession of the Magi" in 1511. This painting is special because it includes a self-portrait of Andrea. In 1514, he completed the "Nativity of the Virgin." This work showed the influence of artists like Leonardo da Vinci and Ghirlandaio. His ability to draw correct outlines earned him great respect.

In 1518, Andrea received a major invitation from King François I of France.

Sarto life
Sarto life

He traveled to Paris in June of that year. He went there to help the king purchase art for the French Court. He traveled with his pupil, Andrea Squarzzella. However, his wife, Lucrezia, wrote to him from Florence. She demanded that he return to Italy. Andrea agreed to leave, but only for a short time. There is a famous story about this trip. Some say he took the king's money to buy a house in Florence instead. This story might have ruined his reputation in France. However, many historians now believe this story might not be true.

Andrea's later years in Florence were very productive. In 1524, he painted a "Visitation" using the monochrome style. He also worked on the "Madonna del Sacco" in 1525. This painting influenced his pupil, Pontormo, through its use of color and gaze. One of his most famous works is the "Madonna of the Harpies" from 1517.

Andrea del Sarto - Virgin and Child between St Francis of Assisi and St John the Evangelist ('Madonna of the Harpies'), 1517, 1890 no.1577
Andrea del Sarto - Virgin and Child between St Francis of Assisi and St John the Evangelist ('Madonna of the Harpies'), 1517, 1890 no.1577

This altarpiece shows the Virgin and Child on a decorated pedestal. The pedestal has carvings of figures called harpies. Andrea was also a very talented imitator. He once made a copy of a portrait of Pope Leo X by Raphael. His copy was so perfect that it even fooled the artist Giulio Romano. It was only discovered as a copy when a private mark was found.

Andrea's personal life was closely tied to his art. He married Lucrezia del Fede in 1512. She appeared as the model for many of his Madonnas.

Andrea del Sarto - Portrait of a Man
Andrea del Sarto - Portrait of a Man

While some biographers described her in negative ways, she was a constant presence. Andrea's life ended during a very difficult time in Florence. In 1530, an outbreak of the bubonic plague hit the city. This was a serious and often fatal disease. Andrea died from the plague in late September at age 44. He was buried in the church of the Servites. His wife Lucrezia survived the plague and lived for 40 more years.

Andrea del Sarto left a lasting impact on the world of art. He helped lead the way toward the Mannerism style. Many famous artists followed his lead. These included Jacopo Pontormo and Rosso Fiorentino. Even the great Michelangelo introduced students to Andrea's studio. While he was not as famous as Michelangelo or Raphael, his skill was unmatched in many ways. His works are now kept in famous museums around the world.

Andrea del Sarto - Assumption of the Virgin (Poppi Altarpiece) - WGA0416
Andrea del Sarto - Assumption of the Virgin (Poppi Altarpiece) - WGA0416

You can find his paintings in the Uffizi, the National Gallery, and the Louvre. His ability to blend color and emotion continues to fascinate people today.

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🖼️ Images & Media (10)
File:Casa di andrea del sarto 01.JPG
Casa di andrea del sarto 01.JPG
File:Andrea del Sarto, Birth of the Virgin, 1509-10, SS Annunziata, Chiostrino dei Voti, Florence.jpg
Andrea del Sarto, Birth of the Virgin,...
File:Andrea del Sarto, S Filippo Benizi's Death and Child restored to Life, 1509f, SS Annunziata, Chiostrino dei Voti, Florence.jpg
Andrea del Sarto, S Filippo Benizi's...
File:Sarto life.jpg
Sarto life.jpg
File:Andrea del Sarto - Assumption of the Virgin (Poppi Altarpiece) - WGA0416.jpg
Andrea del Sarto - Assumption of the...
File:Andrea del Sarto, Head of Saint John the Baptist, c. 1523, NGA 73856.jpg
Andrea del Sarto, Head of Saint John the...
File:Andrea del Sarto - Virgin and Child between St Francis of Assisi and St John the Evangelist ('Madonna of the Harpies'), 1517, 1890 no.1577.jpg
Andrea del Sarto - Virgin and Child...
File:Andrea del Sarto - Pietà with Saints - WGA0395.jpg
Andrea del Sarto - Pietà with Saints - WGA0395.jpg
File:"Portrait of a Man" (Andrea del Sarto).jpg
"Portrait of a Man" (Andrea del Sarto).jpg
File:Andrea del Sarto - Portrait of a Man.jpg
Andrea del Sarto - Portrait of a Man.jpg
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