Artwork
Portrait of a Young Man
Portrait of a Young Man is an oil painting by the Venetian Renaissance artist Jacometto Veneziano. It dates from 1490 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The work titled Portrait of a Young Man, executed by Jacometto Veneziano circa 1480, portrays a youthful male sitter rendered in oil on panel.
The work titled Portrait of a Young Man, executed by Jacometto Veneziano circa 1480, portrays a youthful male sitter rendered in oil on panel. The painting functions as a conventional Renaissance portrait, emphasizing the sitter’s individual presence through a direct gaze and modest attire, motifs that signal personal identity and social standing. Its composition, modest scale, and placement within the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection, formerly owned by Jules Bache, underscore its historical role as a private image of a young man from the late 15th‑century Venetian milieu.
Technique & Style
The portrait is executed in oil paint on a wooden panel support, a common medium for Italian portraiture of the late fifteenth century. The handling is precise and linear, with delicate, controlled brushwork that defines facial features and costume details, particularly in the crisp modeling of the sitter’s face and the intricate rendering of the patterned headdress. Stylistically, the work exemplifies the refined, courtly style associated with Jacometto Veneziano, characterized by elegant line, a cool palette, and meticulous attention to surface texture.
The composition is tightly framed, emphasizing the sitter’s poised presence within a shallow pictorial space. No significant condition issues are reported in the sources.
History & Provenance
Created circa 1480, the oil-on-panel portrait titled Portrait of a Young Man is attributed to the Venetian artist Jacometto Veneziano. The work depicts a male figure and measures approximately 27.9 by 21 centimeters. Historical records indicate that the painting was previously owned by Jules Bache before entering the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is currently housed.
While specific details regarding the original commission or the identity of the sitter remain unrecorded in the available data, the work is firmly dated to the late 15th century based on its stylistic classification and creation timeline. The painting represents a significant example of Venetian portraiture from this period, preserved within a major public institution.
The Portrait of a Young Man by Jacometto Veneziano is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. The work, executed in oil on panel around 1480, measures 27.9 by 21 centimeters. Historical records indicate the painting was previously owned by Jules Bache before entering the museum's holdings.
While the sources confirm its current location and past ownership, they do not provide a specific accession number or a detailed chronology of its exhibition history.
Context
Portrait of a Young Man is a 1480 oil-on-panel portrait attributed to Jacometto Veneziano, documented in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection and formerly owned by Jules Bache. Its classification as a portrait and the recorded dimensions (27.9 × 21 cm) are noted in the museum’s catalogue, situating the work within the early Renaissance tradition of individual likeness. Scholars reference the painting when discussing Jacometto’s role in the emergence of portraiture in Venice, using it as an example of the period’s technical and stylistic developments. The piece’s provenance and attribution underscore its significance in the history of Italian early modern art.
Overview
Jacometto Veneziano's "Portrait of a Young Man," painted in oil around 1490, captures the likeness of an unidentified individual. This painting, a testament to late 15th-century Venetian portraiture, is presently housed within the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art. It offers a direct gaze into the period's artistic conventions and the subtle rendering of human presence.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Jacometto Veneziano was an Italian painter and manuscript illuminator active in Venice in the late fifteenth century, where he died around 1497.
