Taddeo Drawing after the Antique; In the Background Copying a Façade by Polidoro

Giorgio Vasari the Renaissance author and painter mentioned that Taddeo Zuccaro "resolved to live by himself and to have recourse to the workshops of Rome where he was by that time known, spending a part of the week doing work for a livelihood, and the rest in drawing." Like every young artist of his day, Taddeo educated himself by learning to copy antique sculptures. In the foreground he busily copies a classical Roman torso set on a carved pedestal. In the background he sits in front of a lavishly decorated palace facade, probably painted by Polidoro da Caravaggio, showing his drawing to another man.