Artwork
Bust of a Bishop
Bust of a Bishop is an unspecified painting. It dates from 1450 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This painted bust depicts a solemn ecclesiastical figure, likely a bishop, rendered with a calm demeanor and a subtle smile.
About this work
The hat’s intricate carvings and the way the light hits the face suggest careful craftsmanship.
This bust shows a serious-looking man wearing a tall, pointed bishop’s hat. His robe is dark with faded red and gold patterns, and the collar is lined with white fur. The face is smooth but cracked, with a calm expression and a slight smile.
The hat’s intricate carvings and the way the light hits the face suggest careful craftsmanship. This piece is old, made sometime around 1450, and shows signs of wear over time.
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Subject & Meaning
The sculpture titled Bust of a Bishop portrays a single male figure identified as a bishop, as documented in the work’s catalog entries. Both sources note its creation around 1450 and its inclusion in the Metropolitan Museum of Art collection, specifying dimensions of 66.7 cm by 49.5 cm. The piece is classified as a painting in one record, reflecting its historical categorization. Its subject, a bishop, conveys the role of ecclesiastical authority within the visual program of the period.
The work is attributed to an anonymous artist, and its presence in a major museum underscores its significance as a representative example of early Renaissance portraiture.
History & Provenance
Bust of a Bishop dates to 1450 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. No information is available in the provided sources regarding its commission, creation circumstances, or earlier ownership history prior to its acquisition by the museum. The work is catalogued as an anonymous painting, and the sources do not document a chain of provenance, a specific patron, or details surrounding its transfer into the Metropolitan Museum of Art's holdings.
The painting titled Bust of a Bishop is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The work, which depicts a bishop and dates to 1450, is cataloged as an anonymous painting within the museum's holdings. Specific inventory or accession numbers are not provided in the available records, nor is there any documented exhibition history for this piece in the current sources.
The artwork measures 66.7 cm in height and 49.5 cm in width. While the piece is confirmed to be part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection, no further details regarding its provenance journey or past public displays are recorded in the provided documentation.
Overview
This painted bust depicts a solemn ecclesiastical figure, likely a bishop, rendered with a calm demeanor and a subtle smile. Created around 1450, the artwork showcases the detailed attire characteristic of the period, including a tall mitre and a fur-lined robe. Despite its age, which is evident in the surface cracks, the painting retains a sense of the original artist's careful attention to detail and light.
Technique & Style
The painting demonstrates a meticulous approach to detail, particularly in the intricate carvings visible on the bishop's mitre. The artist skillfully manipulates light to define the contours of the face, suggesting a careful study of form and texture. Although the surface shows the effects of time, the underlying craftsmanship in rendering the figure's smooth features and patterned garments remains discernible.
Artist & collection
