Here Taddeo seeks an apprenticeship with his cousin. In a wonderful counterpoint of gestures, he offers his letter of introduction but is brusquely sent away, and he leaves in tears. Nevertheless, Taddeo continues to study and is seen in the background copying a large frescoed facade. Though depicted as heartless in this drawing, Francesco later helped Taddeo win his first major commission.

Curator Lee Hendrix describes Taddeo's emotional first experiences in Rome.