Artwork

Portrait of a Man

Portrait of a Man, by Bartolomé Esteban Murillo, oil, 1660
Portrait of a Man, by Bartolomé Esteban Murillo, oil, 1660

Portrait of a Man is an oil painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Bartolomé Esteban Murillo. It dates from 1660 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.

About this work

Technique & Style

The combination of oil medium and substantial canvas dimensions is consistent with the formal, life-sized portrait format typical of the period.

Portrait of a Man is executed in oil paint on canvas, a standard support for Murillo's portrait practice. The work is a large-scale painting, measuring 199 cm in height by 126 cm in width, and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado. Classified as a portrait, it depicts a single male sitter and was produced in 1660.

The combination of oil medium and substantial canvas dimensions is consistent with the formal, life-sized portrait format typical of the period.

No further details regarding specific handling, brushwork, condition, or stylistic qualities are documented in the available sources.

History & Provenance

Created in 1660, this oil painting on canvas is a portrait of a man executed by the Spanish artist Bartolomé Esteban Murillo. The work measures 199 cm in height and 126 cm in width. While the specific circumstances of its commission and the identity of the sitter remain undocumented in the available records, the piece has been preserved as part of the collection at the Museo del Prado in Madrid, where it is currently housed.

Overview

Created in 1660, this oil on canvas portrait is attributed to Bartolomé Esteban Murillo, a leading figure of the Spanish Baroque. The work belongs to the collection of the Museo del Prado and exemplifies the artist’s occasional focus on individual likenesses, contrasting with his more widely known religious commissions.

Subject & Meaning

The composition depicts a solitary male figure standing in a sparsely furnished interior. He is dressed in dark garments with a cape draped over his shoulders, his long wavy hair spilling past the collar. The pose, with one hand holding a red cloth and the other resting on a small object, suggests a dignified, perhaps middle‑class, identity without explicit narrative clues.

Portrait of Don Diego Felix de Esquivel y Aldama
Portrait of Don Diego Felix de Esquivel y Aldama, Bartolomé Esteban Murillo

Artist & collection

Portrait of Bartolomé Esteban Murillo

Artist

Bartolomé Esteban Murillo

Bartolomé Esteban Murillo ( mure-IL-oh, m(y)uu-REE-oh, Spanish:; late December 1617, baptised 1 January 1618 – 3 April 1682) was a Spanish Baroque painter.

Museo del Prado

Museum

Museo del Prado

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This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: Museo del Prado open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.

Frequently asked questions

Who painted Portrait of a Man?

Portrait of a Man was painted by Bartolomé Esteban Murillo in 1660.

Where can I see Portrait of a Man?

Portrait of a Man is held by Museo del Prado.

What movement is Portrait of a Man?

Portrait of a Man is associated with Early Baroque Italian.