Born in Florence, Andrea del Sarto was an Italian painter who enjoyed an envious degree of artistic appreciation in the period of High Renaissance for his contribution to naturalistic reformation. Vastly regarded for his artistic brilliance, Sarto was popularly named by his contemporaries (including Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Raphael) as ''the artist without errors''. However, he was often regarded as lacking ambition, and consequently, overshadowed by his contemporaries. Despite, at a time when Raphael and Michelangelo were active in Rome, Sarto became the foremost artist in Florence and the principal contributor to the mannerist style.
Sarto, who was born Andrea d'Agnolo di Francesco di Luca di Paolo del Migliore, came to be known as del Sarto ('son of tailor') taking after his father's profession. At 20, he set up studio with Franciabigio, and was welcomed to the Guild of St. Luke in 1508. He was employed by the brotherhood of Servites between 1509 and 1514, during which time, he created his first frescoes depicting some of the famous scenes from the life of St. Philip Benizi, Servites's general. Sarto's clientele included eminent personalities like the King of France and the Pope, but he sometimes worked for free, as in "Madonna del Sacco". His stupendous popularity in the 16th century is reflected in the countless surviving copies of his works.
Sarto was a prolific artist who produced a wide variety of paintings, especially frescoes and easel pictures during his short artistic career. Known for his love of colors, he blended in his paintings colors with delicate softness to create a dissolving effect. His early works showed a unique style, averse to idealism, but expressing profound emotions. He was active mostly in Florence and for 2 brief years at the French court of Francois the First. His later years are little known but his presence in Florence has been documented. The art he produced in Florence left a marked influence on the naturalist style of Tuscan artists' during Counter-Reformation. Works during this time offered plentiful source for budding mannerist painters.
Sarto was introduced to Giorgio Vasari (a young artist then) by Michelangelo in Sarto's atelier, where, Vasari came under the influences of many distinguished artists of the time such as Sarto's pupils, Jacopo Pontormo and Il Rosso. Vasari later wrote that Sarto did not have a creative stimulus.
Sarto completed his best known work, the depiction of the Virgin in "Madonna of the Harpies" in 1517. The altarpiece now resides in the Uffizi gallery in Florence. His last most notable work was "The Last Supper" (now at The Louvre).
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