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| Ridolfo Ghirlandaio (1483–1561) | ||||||||||
| A Florentine painter, Ghirlandaio was the son of a prominent artist and died when he was young, with his upbringing falling to his uncle David, a less accomplished painter. His true artistic education came from Granacci, Piero di Cosimo, and possibly Cosimo Rosselli, with some sources suggesting he also studied under Fra Bartolommeo, although this remains uncertain. Ghirlandaio was one of the first to learn from the renowned cartoons of Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo. Between 1504 and 1508, his work showed a clear influence from Fra Bartolommeo and Raphael, with whom he was friends. This friendship helped him refine his choice of form and the modelling of his figures. When Raphael moved to Rome in 1508, he invited Ghirlandaio to join him, but Ghirlandaio, preferring his home life, declined the offer. He quickly became the leading oil painter in Florence, taking on a wide range of commissions. He was particularly known for creating large-scale works for public events, such as Giuliano de’ Medici’s wedding and the 1515 entry of Leo X into Florence. In his prime, he was known for being diligent and honest in his work, but by 1527, his output began to slow. With substantial wealth, he supported his large family of fifteen children comfortably. His later works became more repetitive and mannered. His sons traded in France and Ferrara, while Ghirlandaio turned to business and mosaic work, though after completing the Annunciation mosaic over the door of the Annunziata, he lost interest in such detailed work. In his later years, he suffered from poor health and died in Florence. | ||||||||||
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Art