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The ill-matched lovers

Unknown

1561

From the collection of Statens Museum for Kunst

Renaissance Renaissance

Dominant colour

The ill-matched lovers is a 1561 by Unknown, a Renaissance work, held at Statens Museum for Kunst.

Who painted this?: Unknown
When & what style?: 1561 · Renaissance
Where can I see it?: Statens Museum for Kunst

About this work

This black-and-white photo shows three people in a dim room. An older man with a bald head and a beard leans in close to a younger woman, who wears a headpiece and a loose dress. They look happy, almost playful, while an older woman in the background smiles and watches them. The lighting is soft, with shadows on their faces and clothes. The title *The Ill-Matched Lovers* hints this might be a scene about unexpected connections. The photo’s old-fashioned style fits the Renaissance era, though it’s actually a later photograph. Next, look up the Renaissance to see how artists told stories like this.