Artwork
Portrait of a Young Man
Portrait of a Young Man is an oil painting by the Northern Renaissance artist Albrecht Dürer. It dates from 1500 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest.
About this work
Overview
Albrecht Dürer’s *Portrait of a Young Man* dates from the year 1500 and is executed in oil on panel. The work presents a solitary figure rendered with meticulous attention to facial features, set against a uniform red backdrop. It is part of the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts in Budapest, where it remains on public display.
Subject & Meaning
The sitter is a youthful male, depicted with a composed demeanor and a faint smile. His gaze is directed slightly downward, suggesting introspection, while his posture and attire convey a sense of modest status. The painting captures a moment of quiet presence rather than overt narrative, inviting viewers to contemplate the individual’s inner life.
Technique & Style
Dürer employs oil paint to achieve a high degree of realism, especially in the rendering of skin texture, hair, and the subtle play of light on the fur-lined coat. The crisp delineation of the black cap and the braided forehead band contrast with the smooth, luminous background, exemplifying the Northern Renaissance’s focus on detail and material fidelity.
History & Provenance
Created at the turn of the 16th century, the portrait reflects Dürer’s mature period, during which he enjoyed patronage from Emperor Maximilian I and maintained contacts with Italian contemporaries. The painting entered the Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest, through acquisition in the early 20th century and has since been documented in the museum’s catalogues as a representative work of Dürer’s portraiture.
Artist & collection
Artist
Albrecht Dürer spent his life in Nuremberg, a busy German city where artists traded prints like currency.
![Madonna and Child [obverse], by Albrecht Dürer](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/albrecht-durer--madonna-and-child-obverse--d7b8ebf05d22ebe5-w320.webp)
![Lot and His Daughters [reverse], by Albrecht Dürer](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/albrecht-durer--lot-and-his-daughters-reverse--b4ebf9b282faa17a-w320.webp)
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