Artwork
Portrait of a Man in a Turban
Portrait of a Man in a Turban is an oil painting by the Northern Renaissance artist Petrus Christus. It dates from 1460 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Technique & Style
The work is executed in oil paint on a wooden panel, a medium characteristic of Early Netherlandish practice.
The work is executed in oil paint on a wooden panel, a medium characteristic of Early Netherlandish practice. Its small scale, 27 by 18.4 centimetres, reflects the intimate format typical of mid-fifteenth-century Netherlandish portraiture. The composition focuses tightly on a male sitter wearing a turban, rendered with the precise, descriptive handling associated with Petrus Christus's portrait style. The painting is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
History & Provenance
Created in 1460 by the Netherlandish artist Petrus Christus, this oil painting on panel depicts a man wearing a turban. The work measures 27 by 18.4 centimetres. It entered the collection of Jules Bache before passing to its current location at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
The painting was included in the Exposition des primitifs flamands à Bruges, marking its presence in major exhibitions of Early Netherlandish art.
Context
The work, attributed to Petrus Christus and dated to 1460, is classified as an Early Netherlandish portrait painted in oil on panel. It is housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, part of the Jules Bache collection, and was exhibited at the Exposition des primitifs flamands à Bruges. Its presence in major scholarly catalogues and exhibition histories reflects its recognised importance within the development of 15th-century Netherlandish portraiture, illustrating the period's focus on detailed naturalism and individualized representation.
Overview
Petrus Christus, an Early Netherlandish painter working in Bruges, completed Portrait of a Man in a Turban in 1460. This oil painting depicts an unknown male sitter, characteristic of the period's focus on individual representation. The work is now housed in the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it represents a key example of fifteenth-century Northern European portraiture.
Subject & Meaning
The painting presents a serious-faced man with light skin and dark hair, his gaze directed outward. He is dressed in a black robe with a white collar, accented by a small gold pin on his chest, and notably, a vibrant red turban. His hands are composedly resting in his lap.
The plain, dark background ensures that the viewer's attention remains entirely on the sitter, emphasizing his presence and individual features.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Petrus Christus (Dutch:; c. 1410/1420 – c. 1475/1476) was an Early Netherlandish painter active in Bruges from 1444, where, along with Hans Memling, he became the leading painter after the death of Jan van Eyck. He was…
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