It does not appear, however, that he learned more than reading and writing in Italian, for later on in life we find him complaining that he knew no Latin.

The boy's genius attracted him irresistibly to art.

He spent all his leisure time in drawing, and frequented the society of youths who were apprenticed to masters in painting and sculpture.

Among these he contracted an intimate friendship with Francesco Granacci, at that time in the workshop of Domenico Ghirlandajo.

Granacci used to lend him drawings by Ghirlandajo, and inspired him with the resolution to become a practical artist.