Artwork
Portrait of a Young Man
Portrait of a Young Man is an oil painting by the Early Renaissance artist Antonello da Messina. It dates from 1470 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Technique & Style
Its material consists of oil pigments applied to a panel support, a technique typical of Early Netherlandish and Italian portraiture of the period.
The work is an oil painting executed on a wooden panel, measuring approximately 27 cm in height by 20.6 cm in width and dated to around 1470. Its material consists of oil pigments applied to a panel support, a technique typical of Early Netherlandish and Italian portraiture of the period. The composition depicts a young man rendered with a restrained palette and careful attention to facial detail, characteristic of Antonello da Messina's approach to portraiture.
The piece belongs to the portrait genre and has been part of the collections of Charles Sedelmeyer and Benjamin Altman before entering the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
History & Provenance
Antonello da Messina painted Portrait of a Young Man around 1470, during his mature period, in oil on a wooden panel. The work depicts a young man and measures 27 by 20.6 centimeters. Its documented ownership chain includes the dealer Charles Sedelmeyer and the collector Benjamin Altman; it entered the Metropolitan Museum of Art as part of the Benjamin Altman bequest in 1913 and bears the accession number 14.40.611.
The painting is classified as a portrait and remains a significant example of fifteenth-century Italian art; no major temporary-exhibition history is documented in the cited sources.
Overview
Antonello da Messina's "Portrait of a Young Man" is an oil painting completed around 1470. This work represents a significant example of Renaissance portraiture, showcasing the artist's distinctive style. The painting is part of the collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it offers insight into the period's artistic innovations and the evolving approach to depicting individual subjects.
Subject & Meaning
The artwork depicts a young man with striking red-gold hair, his gaze directed slightly away from the viewer. His face conveys a sense of calm, with subtle shadows defining his cheekbones and a gentle, almost imperceptible smile. The dark, unadorned background accentuates the luminosity of his skin and the richness of his hair, highlighting the quiet intensity of his presence and the details of his dark garment.
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