Artwork
Portrait of a Young Man; (reverse) Girl Making a Garland
Portrait of a Young Man; (reverse) Girl Making a Garland is an oil painting by the Northern Renaissance artist Hans von Kulmbach. It dates from 1508 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This oil painting presents a "Portrait of a Young Man" on its primary side, depicting a solemn figure.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
Executed in 1508 by Hans von Kulmbach, this double-sided oil painting on poplar panel presents a portrait of a young man as its primary subject.
Executed in 1508 by Hans von Kulmbach, this double-sided oil painting on poplar panel presents a portrait of a young man as its primary subject. The reverse side depicts a girl engaged in the act of making a garland, accompanied by a cat. While the work functions formally as a portrait genre piece, the inclusion of the garland-making figure and the animal on the verso suggests a symbolic pairing, though specific iconographic interpretations regarding the relationship between the male sitter and the female allegory are not detailed in the available records. The piece is currently held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, having previously been in the collection of Nicola Santangelo.
Technique & Style
The work, dated 1508 and signed by Hans von Kulmbach, is executed in oil paint on a poplar panel measuring approximately 17.8 cm in height by 14 cm in width. It belongs to the painting classification and portrait genre, depicting a young man alongside a girl and a cat in a composition typical of early‑16th‑century portraiture. The reverse side bears the related image titled Girl Making a Garland.
The painting’s material support, technique of oil on panel, and formal elements, such as the rendering of facial expression and the inclusion of symbolic objects, reflect the stylistic conventions of the period. It is currently held by Nicola Santangelo and documented in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection.
History & Provenance
Created in 1508 by Hans von Kulmbach, this double-sided oil painting on a poplar panel depicts a young man on the obverse and a girl making a garland on the reverse. The work is currently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is displayed in Gallery 612 within the Palazzo Carafa di Maddaloni wing. Historical records indicate that the piece was previously owned by Nicola Santangelo before entering the museum's holdings.
The artwork measures 17.8 centimeters in height and 14 centimeters in width, serving as a portrait from the early sixteenth century.
The double-sided panel, titled 'Portrait of a Young Man' on the obverse and 'Girl Making a Garland' on the reverse, is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Created in 1508 by Hans Süss von Kulmbach, the work is currently installed in Gallery 612 of the museum's Palazzo Carafa di Maddaloni wing. The painting, executed in oil on poplar panel, measures 17.8 cm in height and 14 cm in width.
While the museum currently owns the piece, historical records indicate it was previously owned by Nicola Santangelo. No specific exhibition dates or loan histories are detailed in the provided sources, though the work remains a permanent fixture within the museum's portrait collection.
Overview
This oil painting presents a "Portrait of a Young Man" on its primary side, depicting a solemn figure. The reverse of the panel features a distinct composition titled "Girl Making a Garland." As a double-sided work, it offers two different subjects within a single artistic object. The use of oil paint allows for a nuanced rendering of both figures.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Hans Suess, known as Hans von Kulmbach (1480 in Kulmbach, Franconia – prior to 3 December 1522 in Nuremberg), was a German artist active in Poland. Hans von Kulmbach was the artist who created the Kraków St John's Altar.
