Why did the master who taught Raphael eventually fall out of favor with critics?

Art · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Pietro Perugino was once the summit of Italian Renaissance painting, celebrated for his clarity and spacious compositions. Yet, as his career progressed, he faced harsh mockery from Florentine critics who accused him of repeating himself. Discover how the teacher of Raphael went from artistic icon to a routine craftsman.

Born around 1450 in Città della Pieve, Pietro Perugino rose to become a defining figure of the Umbrian school. By 1472, he was established in Florence, where he likely trained in the studio of Andrea del Verrocchio alongside the young Leonardo da Vinci. His reputation grew rapidly, leading to a prestigious commission from Pope Sixtus IV to paint frescoes in the Sistine Chapel between 1481 and 1482. His surviving work there, Christ Giving the Keys to St. Peter, showcased a lucid, balanced style that contrasted sharply with the crowded compositions of his contemporaries like Sandro Botticelli.

The period between 1490 and 1500 marked the height of Perugino’s career. During this time, he produced masterpieces such as the Vision of St. Bernard and the Crucifixion for the convent of Sta. Maria Maddalena dei Pazzi. His work was characterized by graceful, sculptural figures set against harmonious, infinite landscapes. It was also during this era that he mentored a young Raphael, who assisted him on the fresco cycle for the guild of bankers in Perugia, completed around 1500.

Despite his early success, Perugino’s later years were marked by a decline in critical standing. After 1500, he began to rely on repetitive designs, a habit that drew public ridicule from Florentine intellectuals. When challenged, Perugino famously defended his consistency, noting that his earlier work had been widely praised. By 1505, he left Florence for the more forgiving environment of Umbria. Although he secured a temporary return to favor in 1508 with Vatican ceiling work, his former pupil Raphael soon eclipsed him. Perugino continued to paint until his death from the plague in early 1523, leaving behind a legacy as a pivotal bridge to the High Renaissance.

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