Artwork
A Patrician and His Wife
A Patrician and His Wife is an unspecified painting. It dates from 1730 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
History & Provenance
Additionally, the available documentation offers no details regarding the work's exhibition history, including past or planned displays.
A Patrician and His Wife is dated to 1730 and is attributed to an anonymous Italian, likely Venetian, painter. The work is a portrait of a man and woman, classified as a painting. It is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where its current location is recorded.
No information regarding the original commissioner, prior owners, or successive transfers of custody is documented in the available records, leaving the ownership chain prior to its accession at the Metropolitan Museum of Art unknown.
The portrait titled A Patrician and His Wife, created in 1730 by an anonymous Venetian painter, is part of the permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. The work measures 73 cm in height and 53 cm in width. While the museum holds the painting, the provided sources do not specify a unique inventory or accession number for this piece.
Additionally, the available documentation offers no details regarding the work's exhibition history, including past or planned displays. The painting remains housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is classified as a portrait depicting a man and a woman.
Overview
This painting, titled A Patrician and His Wife, features a formal portrait of a man. He is depicted in an elaborate fur-lined garment, his posture composed, and his gaze directed outward. The artwork emphasizes the subject's presence through its focused composition and the detailed rendering of his attire and features, offering a glimpse into the social standing of the sitter.
Technique & Style
The artist employs a dark, unadorned background to highlight the figure, drawing attention to the man's face and the luxurious texture of his white, high-collared, fur-lined coat. The skillful manipulation of light and shadow, known as chiaroscuro, contributes to the dramatic effect and sculptural quality of the portrait. This technique enhances the sense of depth and volume, making the subject appear more prominent within the frame.
Subject & Meaning
The man's opulent fur coat signifies his considerable wealth and high social status. His expression, characterized by a calm demeanor, a hint of seriousness, and a subtle smile, conveys a sense of quiet dignity. He holds a small, unidentified object in his right hand, while his left hand rests against his chest, suggesting a gesture of self-possession or perhaps an indication of the heart.
Artist & collection
