Gianfrancesco Penni
Born in Florence to a family of weavers, Penni entered Raphael's workshop very early in his life, and collaborated with him on several works, including the famous Rooms of the Vatican Palace, as well as the frescoes of Villa Farnesina, both in Rome. Heinrich Wölfflin and some other writers credited him with the entire execution of the Raphael Cartoons, with Raphael only creating the initial design, though more recent writers believe Raphael did much of the work himself.
Adoration of the Shepherds (Raphael)
Although there are indications that this drawing could be Raphael's design, additional study is needed. The active composition of the design is very different from designs of the period. It can be argued that this design is related to the "Raphael Rooms" in the Vatican, as some of the compositions in the "Adoration of the Shepherds" occur in those compositions. It can also be argued that many of the features of this drawing belong to the traits of the early 16th century. Raphael used a goldfinch perched in the tree in "Madonna and the goldfinch," currently in the Uffizi Gallery and dated to 1505-1506. However, after the early 16th century Raphael did not appear to use the goldfinch again. Details of the composition including the fully kneeling shepherd, the second shepherd stepping in, the active Joseph, and the Virgin with her hand on her bosom, became common in depictions of the "Adoration of the Shepherds" later in the 16th and 17th centuries.