Portrait of a cardinal
1600
oil
From the collection of National Gallery of Victoria
This portrait depicts a cardinal, dressed in a red robe with a white collar, set against a dark background. The subject's face is the focal point, with his eyes cast downward. The painting's use of chiaroscuro creates a sense of depth and volume, with the contrast between light and dark drawing attention to the cardinal's features. To explore more works that utilize this technique, look into the use of chiaroscuro.
