Artwork
Sebastian Andorfer (1469–1537)
Sebastian Andorfer (1469–1537) is an oil painting by the Northern Renaissance artist Hans Maler zu Schwaz. It dates from 1517 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Next, check out chiaroscuro, this technique uses light and shadow to create depth, just like in this portrait.
This painting shows a man with a big curly beard and a fur hat. He’s wearing a dark robe over a white collar, and his face is turned slightly to the side. The background is a plain blue-green color, and there’s a white label at the bottom with old-style writing.
The label says he was 48 years old in 1517, which is the only clue here. The brushwork is smooth, especially on his skin and beard, making them look very real.
Next, check out chiaroscuro, this technique uses light and shadow to create depth, just like in this portrait.
Subject & Meaning
The painting is a portrait of Sebastian Andorfer (1469–1537), rendered in oil on panel in 1517 by Hans Maler zu Schwaz. The work is classified as a portrait and measures 43.2 cm in height by 35.9 cm in width. It was part of the Michael Friedsam collection and is now held in the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
As a portrait from the early sixteenth-century German school, its primary function is to record the sitter's appearance and status.
Technique & Style
Executed in 1517, this portrait is an oil painting on a wooden panel. The work measures 43.2 cm in height and 35.9 cm in width. Created by Hans Maler zu Schwaz, the piece depicts Sebastian Andorfer and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The painting entered the museum's holdings through the bequest of Michael Friedsam.
History & Provenance
The portrait of Sebastian Andorfer was painted by Hans Maler zu Schwaz in 1517 in oil on panel. It entered the collection of Michael Friedsam before passing, through the Friedsam bequest, to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, where it is held as part of the Michael Friedsam Collection.
Overview
Hans Maler zu Schwaz, a German artist active in the early 16th century, completed this oil portrait of Sebastian Andorfer in 1517. The painting exemplifies Maler's skill in capturing individual likenesses, a talent he honed after training in the School of Ulm. This work is now part of The Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection, representing a significant example of portraiture from the region near Innsbruck, where Maler primarily worked.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Hans Maler zu Schwaz (1480/88 – 1526/29) was a German painter born in Ulm and active as portraitist in the village of Schwaz, near Innsbruck.
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