Who painted The Painter Andrea Sacchi?

The Painter Andrea Sacchi was painted by Carlo Maratta in 1661.

Where can I see The Painter Andrea Sacchi?

The Painter Andrea Sacchi is held by Museo del Prado.

What movement is The Painter Andrea Sacchi?

The Painter Andrea Sacchi is associated with Early Baroque Italian.

Can I buy a print of The Painter Andrea Sacchi?

Museum-quality prints of The Painter Andrea Sacchi are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

The Painter Andrea Sacchi

Carlo Maratta , 1661

The Painter Andrea Sacchi is an oil painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Carlo Maratta. It dates from 1661 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.

About this work

This portrait depicts a man with dark, wavy hair and a mustache, wearing a black jacket over a white collared shirt.

This portrait depicts a man with dark, wavy hair and a mustache, wearing a black jacket over a white collared shirt. The subject is shown from the chest up, facing the viewer with a neutral expression. The background is a dark, muted color.

The painting's style is characterized by its use of chiaroscuro, with strong contrasts between light and dark areas. The subject's face and clothing are rendered in detail, while the background is more subdued.

The painting is a representation of the artist Andrea Sacchi, created by Carlo Maratta in 1661. To learn more about the artist who painted this portrait, look up Carlo Maratta.

Subject & Meaning

Carlo Maratta's 1661 oil painting functions as a formal portrait, with the Italian artist Andrea Sacchi serving as the sole subject and main focus of the composition. As a work within the portrait genre, the image is dedicated to capturing the likeness and presence of Sacchi rather than illustrating a narrative scene, religious event, or allegorical concept. Consequently, the work does not employ complex iconography or symbolic attributes to convey a broader philosophical meaning; its significance lies entirely in its representation of the sitter himself.

The painting acts as a direct visual record of the artist, devoid of additional metaphorical layers or secondary figures.

Technique & Style

Carlo Maratta's portrait of Andrea Sacchi is executed in oil paint on canvas, a standard support for mid-seventeenth-century Italian portraiture. The work measures 67 cm in height by 50 cm in width, a modest vertical format suited to a single half-length or bust-length sitter. Its classification as a painting and its genre as a portrait are confirmed by cataloguing records, and the canvas support aligns with Maratta's broader practice of working in oils on woven grounds rather than panel. No further information is available in the provided sources regarding underdrawing, palette, condition, or specific stylistic handling.

History & Provenance

The work was commissioned in 1661 by Philip V of Spain and entered the Spanish royal collection, later passing to Charles III of Spain and then to Ferdinand VII of Spain.

It was acquired by the Museo del Prado, where it remains in the collection at the Royal Palace of Aranjuez.

The work is held in the Museo del Prado, Royal Palace of Aranjuez, Spain.

It carries the inventory number P001214. The painting entered the collection under Philip V and later passed through the holdings of Charles III and Ferdinand VII before its current location.

Overview

Carlo Maratta painted a portrait of the fellow artist Andrea Sacchi in 1661. Executed in oil on canvas, the work presents the painter from the chest upward, looking directly at the viewer with a composed expression. The portrait is part of the early Italian Baroque tradition and is currently housed in the Museo del Prado.

Portrait of an artist, Gerard van Honthorst

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Artist & collection

Artist

Carlo Maratta

Carlo Maratta or Maratti (18 May 1625 – 15 December 1713) was an Italian Baroque painter and draughtsman, active principally in Rome where he was the leading painter in the second half of the 17th century.