Artwork
Bildnis eines Mannes
Bildnis eines Mannes is an unspecified painting by the Mannerist artist Jacopo Tintoretto. It dates from 1556 and is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections.
About this work
History & Provenance
The work entered the collection through documented acquisition by the Bavarian State, establishing a clear ownership chain from the artist to the institution.
The portrait titled Bildnis eines Mannes was painted by Jacopo Tintoretto in 1556 and is part of the Bavarian State Painting Collections, housed in the Alte Pinakothek. Its dimensions are 74 cm in height and 56.8 cm in width, reflecting its status as a late Renaissance portrait. The work entered the collection through documented acquisition by the Bavarian State, establishing a clear ownership chain from the artist to the institution.
The portrait is held by the Alte Pinakothek in Munich, part of the Bavarian State Painting Collections. It is inventoried as Alte Pinakothek, Inv.-Nr. 10979. The painting was included in the museum’s 2019 reinstallation of its Italian Renaissance galleries, marking its most recent documented exhibition.
Overview
Jacopo Tintoretto’s 1556 work titled Bildnis eines Mannes presents a tightly framed portrait of a bearded, dark‑haired gentleman. The sitter’s solemn gaze is illuminated from one side, while the surrounding space recedes into deep shadow, creating a stark contrast that isolates the face against an almost black background.
Subject & Meaning
The portrait captures a middle‑aged man whose expression conveys seriousness and introspection. The absence of overt symbols or elaborate attire suggests a focus on personal identity rather than status, inviting viewers to contemplate the individual’s inner character through the intensity of his gaze and the subtle tension of his features.
Technique & Style
Tintoretto employs a pronounced chiaroscuro, directing a narrow beam of light onto the face and allowing the rest of the composition to dissolve into darkness. This dramatic lighting, combined with the painter’s vigorous brushwork, aligns with the Mannerist tendency toward heightened emotional effect and spatial ambiguity.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Jacopo Robusti (late September or early October 1518 – 31 May 1594), best known as Tintoretto ( TIN-tə-RET-oh; Italian:; Venetian: ), was an Italian Renaissance painter of the Venetian school.
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