Study of Hands

Andrea d’Agnolo di Francesco di Luca di Paolo del Migliore (circa 1487-1530) was born near Florence, Italy, at the height of the European cultural flourishing known as the Renaissance. Because his father was a tailor, Andrea was known as del Sarto, “the tailor's son.” At the age of 7 he was apprenticed to a goldsmith and then to Gian Barile, a local woodcarver and painter. After working for Barile for a few years, Andrea was apprenticed to another painter, Piero di Cosimo, and later to Rafaellino del Garbo. These painters of frescoes and oils undoubtedly helped young Andrea to develop his natural talent. After his training, Andrea formed a partnership with the painter Franciabigio, and their first major collaboration was a fresco titled Baptism of Christ for the courtyard of a confraternity of flagellants. Andrea soon became known as a skilled painter of frescoes and oils for convents and monasteries.