The artist was born in Verona from which his family moved to Venice around 1505. Here, the young artist reputedly trained under Palma il Vecchio. He was initially a close follower of il Vecchio. He ran a large workshop in Venice, which could execute small devotional works as well as large painting projects. His early work also shows his knowledge of Giorgione and Titian[2]
He painted numbers of Sacra conversazioni centred on a Virgin and Child in a landscape, with variable other saints, using similar compositions. He created a large series of narrative paintings for the Palazzo dei Camerlenghi.[1] It took 20 years to complete the project.[2]
His style was influenced by that of Giorgione and Titian. From the 1530s the artist introduced some figurative elements of central Italian origin derived mainly from Raphael. During those years he made a fortune in Venice[2] Many cassoni and furniture decorations are attributed to him.