Michelangelo, Leonardo, and Raphael in Renaissance Florence

This course explores the rivalry between Michelangelo and Leonardo and the influence both had on the young Raphael. These three superstars of the Italian Renaissance briefly crossed paths at the turn of the 16th century, competing for the attention of the most powerful patrons in Republican Florence. On January 25, 1504, Florence’s most prominent artists met to discuss where to install a newly unveiled sculpture, David, by the 29-year-old Michelangelo. Among them was Leonardo da Vinci. He was 23 years Michelangelo’s senior and, like the younger artist, had only recently returned to his native Florence. Leonardo was then working on his own masterpiece, which would later be known as the Mona Lisa. Soon thereafter, a 21-year-old upstart named Raphael also arrived in Florence to study the work of the two men he saw as the greatest living artists. Raphael would quickly establish himself as a leading artist in his own right, producing works to rival those of Michelangelo and Leonardo. By closely examining this trio of titans locked in competitive and dynamic rivalry, our goal is to paint a clear picture of their minds and eyes at work in Florence during a period in history when artistic innovation and creativity were at their peak. Readings include Leonardo's Notebooks, Michelangelo's Sonnets, Giorgio Vasari's Lives, as well as other primary sources to gain a comprehensive understanding of the artistic landscape in Renaissance Florence.

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