By Anne Leader
Andrea del Sarto was born in Florence in July 1486, variously reported on the 6th, 16th, and 17th, where he spent the majority of his career. The son of a tailor (or sarto), Andrea was the leading painter in Florence in the early 16th century. Influenced by Leonardo da Vinci, Fra Bartolommeo, Michelangelo, and Raphael, Andrea developed his own style that shows deep knowledge of classicism while foreshadowing Mannerism. Students included Jacopo Pontormo, Rosso Fiorentino, and Giorgio Vasari. Andrea was in the service of French King Francis I in 1518-19.
Reference: Chapman, Hugo. “Andrea del Sarto.” The Oxford Companion to Western Art. Ed. Hugh Brigstocke. Oxford Art Online. Oxford University Press. Web.