Artwork
Portrait of a Man
Portrait of a Man is an oil painting. It dates from 1599 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Technique & Style
The medium of oil paint allows for the detailed rendering of the male subject's features and attire, while the panel provides a rigid, durable foundation.
Created in 1597, this portrait is executed in oil paint on a wooden panel support. The work measures 18.4 centimeters in height and 15.9 centimeters in width, reflecting a compact format typical of North Italian portraiture from the late sixteenth century. The medium of oil paint allows for the detailed rendering of the male subject's features and attire, while the panel provides a rigid, durable foundation.
As a genre painting focused on a single male figure, the composition emphasizes the sitter's presence through the artist's handling of light and texture. The piece remains part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection, having been acquired through the Michael Friedsam bequest, and continues to display the formal qualities associated with its period and regional origin.
History & Provenance
The portrait was created in 1597 by an unidentified North Italian painter, executed in oil on panel. After its completion, the work entered the private collection of Michael Friedsam, whose ownership is recorded in the provenance. Upon Friedsam’s death, the painting was bequeathed to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, where it remains today as part of the museum’s holdings. No specific commission details are documented in the available sources.
Portrait of a Man, dated 1597, is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Its provenance traces through the holdings of Michael Friedsam, who is recorded as a former owner of the work. The painting, executed in oil on panel, entered the museum's collection as part of its holdings. No specific exhibition history is documented in the available sources.
Context
The work titled Portrait of a Man, painted in oil on panel in 1597, is classified as a portrait and belongs to the corpus of a North Italian painter. Its material (oil paint, panel) and dimensions (18.4 × 15.9 cm) are recorded, and it was part of the Michael Friedsam collection before entering the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The painting depicts a solitary male sitter, fitting the portrait genre, and its inclusion in a major museum collection reflects its historical importance within the artist’s output and the broader European portrait tradition.
Overview
This oil painting, titled Portrait of a Man, presents an anonymous male figure. Rendered with oil paint, the work captures the subject from the chest up against a subdued background. It is part of the collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, offering a glimpse into portraiture traditions.
Subject & Meaning
The sitter is depicted with dark hair and a beard, dressed in a black garment accented by a white ruffled collar. His right hand rests gently on his stomach, a common pose in formal portraiture. The man's attire and composed demeanor suggest a professional or distinguished status, reflecting the conventions of the period in which such portraits were commissioned.
Artist & collection
