Artwork
Portrait of a Man
Portrait of a Man is an oil painting by the High Renaissance artist Fra Bartolomeo. It dates from 1507 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Technique & Style
As a High Renaissance painting, the piece demonstrates the artist's handling of oil media to achieve depth and modeling within a relatively compact format.
Created in 1507, Fra Bartolomeo's Portrait of a Man is executed in oil paint on a wooden panel support. The work measures 39.4 cm in height and 29.8 cm in width, presenting a formal portrait of a male subject. As a High Renaissance painting, the piece demonstrates the artist's handling of oil media to achieve depth and modeling within a relatively compact format.
The composition focuses on the depiction of a man, utilizing the panel support typical of the period to ensure durability and a smooth surface for detailed brushwork. The painting remains part of the collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where its material integrity and stylistic execution as a portrait from the early 16th century are preserved.
History & Provenance
The work titled Portrait of a Man was executed in 1507 by the High Renaissance painter Fra Bartolomeo, who specialized in oil on panel. The painting, measuring roughly 39.4 × 29.8 cm, depicts a solitary male sitter and belongs to the portrait genre. Its early ownership is documented as belonging to Johann Peter Weyer, a collector noted in the work's record.
Subsequently the piece entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it remains. The dating of 1507 is confirmed by contemporary cataloguing, and the medium and support are identified as oil paint applied to a wooden panel.
Overview
Fra Bartolomeo's Portrait of a Man, painted in 1507, exemplifies the High Renaissance style. This oil painting depicts an unidentified male figure, notable for his direct gaze and distinctive attire. The work is a significant example of the portrait genre from an artist primarily recognized for religious subjects.
It is currently housed in the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, representing a key period in Italian art history.
Subject & Meaning
The painting presents a man with a serious countenance, his short dark hair framing a focused expression. He wears a dark coat, contrasted by a vibrant red cap and a pink scarf draped over his shoulders, which draw the viewer's eye towards his face. A subtle, muted landscape featuring trees and a distant structure provides a soft backdrop, emphasizing the sitter's presence rather than the environment.
Context
Fra Bartolomeo, an Italian Renaissance artist, was initially trained by Cosimo Rosselli. Although widely known for his religious compositions, he also produced secular works like this portrait. His life took a significant turn in 1500 when, influenced by the reformer Savonarola, he became a Dominican friar. Despite this monastic commitment, he continued his artistic practice, integrating his spiritual life with his painting career.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Fra Bartolomeo or Bartolommeo (UK: US: Italian:; 28 March 1472 – 31 October 1517), also known as Bartolommeo di Pagholo, Bartolommeo di San Marco, Bartolomeo di Paolo di Jacopo del Fattorino, and his original nickname…
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