Early Life and Apprenticeship in Sienese Tradition Neroccio di Bartolomeo de' Landi, born in Siena in 1447, emerged from a distinguished patrician family at a pivotal moment for the city. While Siena’s golden age of medieval splendor had passed, a vibrant artistic spirit still pulsed within its walls. Neroccio inherited this legacy, beginning his formal training under Lorenzo di Pietro, known as Il Vecchietta—a master who effectively served as the central figure in shaping nearly all Sienese artists of the second half of the 15th century. This apprenticeship instilled in him a deep respect f…