Artwork
Marsilio Cassotti and His Bride Faustina
Marsilio Cassotti and His Bride Faustina is an oil painting by the Mannerist artist Lorenzo Lotto. It dates from 1523 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.
About this work
This is a double portrait of Marsilio Cassotti and Faustina, painted in oil on wood by Lorenzo Lotto around 1523.
This is a double portrait of Marsilio Cassotti and Faustina, painted in oil on wood by Lorenzo Lotto around 1523. It shows a married couple standing side by side in a calm, indoor setting. The painting hangs today in Madrid’s Museo del Prado.
Lotto signed and dated the work right on the surface, “Lotus Pictor 1523”, making it extra special. It’s also the first known Italian marriage portrait, though similar ones had already appeared north of the Alps.
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Overview
Lorenzo Lotto’s oil painting of Marsilio Cassotti and his wife Faustina, executed on a wooden panel in 1523, presents the newlyweds standing together in an interior space. The work is signed on the surface with the Latin phrase “Lotus Pictor 1523,” confirming the artist’s hand and the date of execution. It is part of the collection of the Museo del Prado in Madrid.
Subject & Meaning
The portrait depicts the merchant Marsilio Cassotti and his bride Faustina in a dignified, seated pose, emphasizing their marital bond and social status. Their calm demeanor and the intimate proximity suggest a celebration of their union, while the inclusion of both figures marks an early Italian example of a joint marital portrait.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil on wood, Lotto employs a restrained palette and careful modeling to render the figures with subtle chiaroscuro. The composition balances the two sitters within a modest interior, using fine brushwork to delineate textures of clothing and flesh, characteristic of Lotto’s nuanced approach to portraiture during his Bergamo period.
History & Provenance
Created shortly after Lotto settled in Bergamo, the painting represents the first known Italian marriage portrait, predating similar northern European works such as the Arnolfini Portrait. It entered the Spanish royal collection in the 18th century and has been displayed at the Museo del Prado since that time.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Lorenzo Lotto (c. 1480 – 1556/57) was an Italian Renaissance painter, draughtsman, and illustrator, traditionally placed in the Venetian school, though much of his career was spent in other north Italian cities. He…
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