Artwork
Portrait of a Man

Portrait of a Man is an oil painting by the Mannerist artist Jacopo Tintoretto. It dates from 1550 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. Created circa 1550, this oil on canvas portrait presents a bearded gentleman in a dark robe, his gaze meeting the viewer directly.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts a man, identified by its main subject and genre as a portrait of a single male sitter.
The painting depicts a man, identified by its main subject and genre as a portrait of a single male sitter. Executed in 1550 by Jacopo Tintoretto, the work belongs to the tradition of mid-sixteenth-century Venetian portraiture, in which the sitter is typically presented as an individualized presence rather than through allegorical attributes.
Because the sources describe the work only in terms of its basic subject, a man, without identifying the sitter by name, profession, or social role, no further iconographic or symbolic reading can be grounded. The painting's meaning, within the available documentation, is restricted to its function as a portrait of an unnamed male figure, now held in the Rijksmuseum collection.
Technique & Style
Executed in 1550, this portrait by Jacopo Tintoretto is an oil painting on canvas. The work measures 63.5 cm in height and 57.5 cm in width. As a representative example of the artist's portraiture from this period, the piece utilizes oil paint applied to a fabric support to depict a male subject.
The classification remains consistent across records as a painted portrait, though specific details regarding the current condition of the surface, brushwork handling, or distinct stylistic maneuvers beyond the medium and support are not elaborated upon in the available documentation.
History & Provenance
The Portrait of a Man by Jacopo Tintoretto was created in 1550. Executed in oil paint on canvas, the work measures 63.5 cm in height and 57.5 cm in width. The painting is currently held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
While the specific commission details and early ownership history are not detailed in the provided records, the work is firmly dated to the mid-16th century by its creator.
Overview
Created circa 1550, this oil on canvas portrait presents a bearded gentleman in a dark robe, his gaze meeting the viewer directly. The composition is dominated by a muted background that heightens the solemn atmosphere, while the sitter’s neatly trimmed hair and well‑kept beard convey a sense of restrained dignity.
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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.


















