Even as a youth Giulio Pippi, named Romano after his birthplace Rome, visited the home of Raphael, who assumed responsibility not only for his artistic training but also his upbringing. Giulio was soon involved as a collaborator in Raphael’s commissions, such as the grand fresco cycles in the Vatican chambers.

Today, the close relationship between master and student makes it difficult for researchers to clearly identify the extent of Giulio’s involvement in Raphael’s later paintings. Following Raphael’s death in 1520, Giulio inherited his workshop and completed some of his paintings and fresco cycles.

In the Sala di Costantino Giulio changed Raphael’s plans decisively and thus created the first monumental evidence of Mannerism in Rome.

In 1524 Giulio became court painter and cultural architect to Federigo Gonzaga in Mantua and effectively regulated all artistic activities at his court. He remained there until the end of his life.

From 1527–1534 he created his major work in Mantua, the Palazzo del Tè, for whose architecture and interior decoration he was solely responsible. His creative treatment of classical influences placed him beyond all conventions in both his architecture and his frescos.