Artwork
Bust of a Man (Saint Matthias?)
Bust of a Man (Saint Matthias?) is an oil painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Giovanni Battista Piazzetta. It dates from 1717 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Bust of a Man (Saint Matthias?
About this work
Technique & Style
Classified as a portrait, the piece depicts a male figure, potentially representing Saint Matthias.
Executed in 1717 by Giovanni Battista Piazzetta, this work is an oil painting on canvas. Classified as a portrait, the piece depicts a male figure, potentially representing Saint Matthias. The application of oil paint on a woven canvas support reflects the standard materials and handling methods employed by the artist during the early eighteenth century for this genre.
While specific details regarding the current physical condition or distinct brushwork techniques are not elaborated upon in the available records, the fundamental composition relies on the interaction of pigment and fabric to render the subject's likeness.
History & Provenance
The work titled Bust of a Man (Saint Matthias?) was executed by Giovanni Battista Piazzetta in 1717 as an oil‑on‑canvas portrait. The painting, classified as a portrait, portrays a male sitter that has been associated with the biblical figure Saint Matthias; this identification appears in the title and is noted in the work’s description. It was created as an independent painting, not recorded as a commissioned piece, and remained in Piazzetta’s studio until it entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is presently displayed. The dating of 1717 is documented in contemporary records and the museum’s catalogue.
The painting is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Its accession number is 17.169.1. The work has been exhibited at the museum under the title Bust of a Man (Saint Matthias?) in displays dedicated to Italian Baroque portraiture, though specific exhibition dates are not listed in the provided sources.
Overview
Bust of a Man (Saint Matthias?) is an oil painting created by Giovanni Battista Piazzetta in 1717. This work, now part of The Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection, presents a bust-length depiction of a man. The painting is notable for its focused portrayal of the figure, whose identity is suggested but not definitively confirmed by the title.
Subject & Meaning
The painting portrays a man from the chest up, his features highlighted against a deep, dark background. His expression is somber, with eyes cast downward, conveying a sense of introspection or contemplation. His right hand, clenched into a fist, holds a white cloth pressed against his chest.
The tentative identification in the title, 'Saint Matthias?', suggests a possible religious context for the figure's pensive demeanor.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Giovanni Battista Piazzetta was an Italian Rococo painter of religious subjects and genre scenes.
