Just What Is It That Makes Barocci's Painting So Different, So Appealing?

This contribution presents some personal reflections on crucial moments of Barocci’s early career. First of all I consider the most current opinions about the year of his birth and try to support the hypothesis in favour of 1533. Then I reconsider Francesco Menzocchi’s influence on the apprenticeship of the young Barocci and on his mature works. An in-depth focus is dedicated to the relationship between Barocci and Battista Franco, and to the teachings that the Venitian painter gave to develop Barocci’s complete mastery of “sculptural” drawing. Finally Franco’s departure from Urbino leads to Barocci’s first stay in Rome and to his intense solidarity with Taddeo Zuccari, which is the subject of some new observations.