ricchio certain of the designs and cartoons for that work:[1] nor would the young artist have failed to continue there, but for the reports which had reached him concerning Leonardo da Vinci, of whose merits he heard many painters of Siena speak in terms of the highest praise. They more especially celebrated the cartoon which Leonardo had prepared in the Sala del Papa at Florence, for a most beautiful group of horses which was to be executed for the Great Hall of the Palace. They likewise mentioned another cartoon, representing nude figures, and made by Michael Angelo Buonarroti, in competition with Leonardo, whom he had on that occasion greatly surpassed. These discourses awakened in Raphael so ardent a desire to behold the works thus commended, that, moved by the love he ever bore to excellence in art, and setting aside all thought of his own interest or convenience, he at once proceeded to Florence. [2]
Arrived in that place, he found the city please him equally with the works he had come to see, although the latter appeared to him divine; he therefore determined to remain there for some time, and soon formed a friendly intimacy with several young painters, among whom were Ridolfo Ghirlandajo, Aristotele San Gallo,[3] and others. He was, indeed, much esteemed in that city, but above all, by Taddeo Taddei,[4] who, being a great admirer of distinguished talent, desired to have him always in his house and at his table. Thereupon Raphael, who was kindliness itself, that he might
- ↑ It will be remembered that in the life of Pinturicchio, Vasari attributes to Raphael all the designs and cartoons for this work. See vol. ii. p. 285.
- ↑ The first visit of Raphael to Florence took place in 1504, as we learn from a letter bearing date 1st October in that year, from Giovanna, Duchess of Sora, sister of the Duke of Urbino, to Piero Soderini, who was then Gonfaloniere of the Florentine Republic, which Raphael took with him, and wherein she calls the painter himself “a discreet and amiable youth.“ The cartoons prepared by Leonardo da Vinci and Michael Angelo, in competition with each other, were not completed until the year 1506. See, for more minute details respecting this period of the life of Raphael, Longhena, Istoria della Vita, &c., Munich, 1824; Rehberg, Rafael Sanzio; Platner and Bunsen, Beschreibung der Stadt Rom; Passavant, Pungileoni, and others.
- ↑ The lives of these artists follow.
- ↑ What Vasari here relates must have taken place at a subsequent period, perhaps on the occasion of Raphael’s second, or as some say, third visit, when he remained in Florence from 1506 to 1508, and may then have seen the Cartoons of Leonardo and Michael Angelo.
