Artwork
Portrait of a man
Portrait of a man is an oil painting by the Early Renaissance artist Giovanni Bellini. It dates from 1496 and is held in the collection of the Capitoline Museums.
About this work
Overview
This oil painting, titled Portrait of a Man, is attributed to the Italian Renaissance artist Giovanni Bellini and dates to around the year 1500. It is part of the collection of the Galleria Capitolina within Rome’s Capitoline Museums.
Subject & Meaning
The work depicts a solitary male figure with long, light‑brown hair, dressed in a black hat and a black shirt accented by a white collar. His expression is sober, his gaze directed leftward, and his features, thin eyebrows, a small nose, and a narrow mouth, are rendered with careful realism.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil on canvas, Bellini employs a muted grey‑blue background that allows the figure’s dark clothing and subtle skin tones to stand out. The brushwork captures fine details such as the brown eyes and the texture of the hair, reflecting the artist’s mastery of tonal modeling.
History & Provenance
The portrait entered the Galleria Capitolina’s holdings in the early 20th century, though earlier ownership records are scarce. Its presence in the Capitoline Museums links it to the broader context of Bellini’s late works, which were collected by Roman institutions during the period.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Giovanni Bellini (Italian: ; Venetian: Zuane Belin; c. 1430 – 29 December 1516) was an Italian Renaissance painter, probably the best known of the Bellini family of Venetian painters. He was raised in the household of…
- Portrait of a Man
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