13 Facts About Pietro Perugino

1.

Pietro Perugino, born Pietro Vannucci, was an Italian Renaissance painter of the Umbrian school, who developed some of the qualities that found classic expression in the High Renaissance.

2.

Pietro Perugino was born Pietro Vannucci in Citta della Pieve, Umbria, the son of Cristoforo Maria Vannucci.

3.

Pietro Perugino's nickname characterizes him as from Perugia, the chief city of Umbria.

4.

Pietro Perugino's exact date of birth is not known, but based on his age at death that was mentioned by Vasari and Giovanni Santi, it is believed that he was born between 1446 and 1452.

5.

Pietro Perugino was one of the earliest Italian practitioners of oil painting.

6.

Pietro Perugino had an established studio in Florence, and received a great number of commissions.

7.

Pietro Perugino's Pieta in the Uffizi is an uncharacteristically stark work that avoids Perugino's sometimes too easy sentimental piety.

8.

Pietro Perugino was made one of the priors of Perugia in 1501.

9.

On one occasion Michelangelo told Pietro Perugino to his face that he was a bungler in art : Vannucci brought an action for defamation of character, unsuccessfully.

10.

Pietro Perugino lost his students; and toward 1506 he once more and finally, abandoned Florence, going to Perugia, and thence in a year or two to Rome.

11.

Pietro Perugino was still at Fontignano in 1523 when he died of the plague.

12.

Vasari is the main source stating that Pietro Perugino had very little religion and openly doubted the soul's immortality.

13.

Perugia dedicated an important monument to Pietro Perugino built in 1923 by the sculptor Enrico Quattrini and today visible in the Carducci Gardens.