Artwork
Portrait of a man in a fur coat
Portrait of a man in a fur coat is an oil painting by the Mannerist artist Jacopo Tintoretto. It dates from 1554 and is held in the collection of the Uffizi Gallery.
About this work
Overview
Jacopo Tintoretto painted this oil portrait in 1554, depicting a bearded gentleman in a dark, fur‑lined coat. The sitter looks straight ahead, his right hand extended, while his left hand steadies the garment. Set against a deep, shadowed background, the work emphasizes the texture of the fur and the solemn expression of the figure.
Subject & Meaning
The portrait presents an unidentified male patron, dressed in formal attire that signals wealth and status. His direct gaze and composed posture suggest confidence, while the somber lighting imparts a contemplative mood. The emphasis on the luxurious fur coat underscores the social aspirations of the sitter within the Venetian elite.
Technique & Style
Tintoretto employs a pronounced chiaroscuro, using stark contrasts of light and dark to model the figure’s volume and to highlight the fur’s surface. The brushwork is vigorous, characteristic of his Mannerist approach, with elongated forms and a dynamic arrangement that creates a sense of movement despite the static pose.
History & Provenance
Since its creation, the painting has been part of the Uffizi Gallery’s collection in Florence. It entered the museum’s holdings through the Medici acquisitions of Venetian works, where it has been displayed as an example of Tintoretto’s portraiture within the broader context of 16th‑century Italian art.
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.
