Raffaello Sanzio was born on April 6, 1843 in the city of Urbino, Italy. He was a painter during the High Renaissance period. His works are commonly organized into three phases: the beginnings of his career, the Florentine period, and the final years in which he produced his best works. Raphael's family was full of artists. His father was a court painter to the Duke of Urbino, Federico Iii da Montefeltro. Raphael's mother died when he was eight years old. His father died when he was eleven. When Raphael was 16, he began working as an apprentice under the Umbrian master Pietro Perugino. By 1501 he was ready and was considered a master of the art. His first painting was called Pala Baronci for San Nicola da Tolentino in 1502. In 1508 Raphael moved to Rome and lived the rest of his life there. When Raphael turned seventeen he moved to the city of Perugia, where he worked with a famous artist named Pietro Perugino for four years. He continued to improve his painting, learning from Perugino, but also developing his own style. In 1504 Raphael moved to Florence. He was now considered a master painter ...