Inheriting the workshop of Andrea del Verrocchio in 1488, the Florentine painter established a career defined by meticulous finish and religious themes. He spent nearly his entire professional life in Florence, working alongside peers like Leonardo da Vinci while maintaining a rigorous approach to his craft that often drew critique from contemporary biographers for its extreme detail.
Training and Early Career
Born in 1459, he was the son of a goldsmith named Andrea d'Oderigo. His apprenticeship under Verrocchio provided foundational training in painting and sculpture. By 1480, he was a formal assistant, and in 1482 he assumed control of the workshop during Verrocchio's absence. Upon his master's death, he secured the shop, completing unfinished projects such as the Madonna di Piazza for Pistoia Cathedral between 1485 and 1491.
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He focused primarily on smaller religious panels and portraits rather than large-scale fresco cycles. His process involved excessive grinding of pigments and careful distillation of oils to achieve a high level of finish. Despite his training as a sculptor and his father's profession, his known body of work consists almost entirely of paintings and drawings. He avoided secular subjects, with the notable exception of a nearly nude Venus created for the Medici family.
Portraits and Later Works
His output included portraits such as the Lady of the Jasmin, depicting Caterina Sforza. This work has garnered interest due to its stylistic similarities to Leonardo da Vinci’s portraits. As he transitioned into his later years, he worked until at least the 1520s, though his style was perceived by some as becoming old-fashioned. He remained active in civic affairs, serving on the committee in 1504 that determined the placement of Michelangelo's David.
Legacy and Collaborators
He managed a busy workshop that trained several notable artists, including Giovanni Antonio Sogliani, Tommaso di Stefano Lunetti, and Antonio del Ceraiolo. He was also an associate to followers such as Giovanni di Benedetto Cianfanini. He died in Florence in 1537, leaving behind a body of work that included the Adoration of the Shepherds and various depictions of the Annunciation that remain in international collections today.
Fast facts
- Born: 1459, Florence
- Died: 1537, Florence
- Occupation: Painter, sculptor, draftsperson
- Workshop inherited: 1488
- Notable work: Adoration of the Shepherds
- Notable work: The Annunciation
- Notable work: Lady of the Jasmin
- Notable work: Saint Bartholomew
Questions readers ask
Did Lorenzo di Credi complete the equestrian statue of Bartolomeo Colleoni?
No, although Verrocchio recommended him for the task, he transferred his rights to a bronze technician and did not personally finish the sculpture.
Why was his portrait technique criticized by Vasari?
Giorgio Vasari criticized him for being an excessive perfectionist who ground his pigments too finely and spent too much time distilling his oils.
Achievements
- Notable work: Adoration of the Shepherds
- Notable work: The Annunciation
- Notable work: Venus
- Notable work: Lady of the Jasmin
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