Sebastiano del Piombo

The Venetian-born artist Sebastiano del Piombo (c. 1485, Venice—July 21, 1547, Rome) was perhaps trained by Giorgione. The Pope's banker, Agostino Chigi, one of the great patrons of the time, recognised his talent and brought him to Rome. Sebastiano moved to this city in 1511, where he became an important portraitist and painter of religious subjects. He also became one of the rare friends of Michelangelo and was drawn into his rivalry with Raphael. This culminated when Michelangelo provided designs for Sebastiano's Raising of Lazarus, in order to surpass its competitor, Raphael’s “Transfiguration”. After Raphael's death, Sebastiano was the leading painter in Rome. The Pope honoured the artist by making him Keeper of the Papal Seal, hence his name the Piombo. Sebastiano's early Venetian works resemble those by Giorgione, while his late style could be more dark and sombre. His work was profoundly influenced by Michelangelo.