Artwork
Portrait of a Man
Portrait of a Man is an oil painting. It dates from 1700 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
Created as a portrait genre piece, the painting focuses entirely on this individual without additional contextual figures or narrative scenes.
The work depicts a single male figure, identified simply as a man in the subject classification. Created as a portrait genre piece, the painting focuses entirely on this individual without additional contextual figures or narrative scenes. The Metropolitan Museum of Art lists the main subject explicitly as a man, with no further iconographic details, symbolic attributes, or specific identity provided in the available records.
Consequently, the work's meaning is derived solely from its function as a representation of a male subject from the year 1700, rather than from any described allegorical or symbolic content.
Technique & Style
The Portrait of a Man is an oil painting on canvas, measuring 63.5 cm in height and 52.4 cm in width. Executed in 1700, the work belongs to the genre of portrait and is classified as a painting. The medium consists of oil paint applied to a canvas support, a technique typical of early 18th‑century portraiture.
The piece was part of the collection of Michael Friedsam and is housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Its formal qualities reflect a straightforward portrait style, emphasizing the sitter’s presence through muted tonal modeling and a restrained composition.
History & Provenance
Created in 1700, this oil on canvas portrait was executed by an unidentified Spanish painter from the Andalusian region. The work measures 63.5 by 52.4 centimeters and depicts a male subject. Regarding its ownership history, the painting was once in the collection of Michael Friedsam. It subsequently entered the holdings of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it remains located.
Overview
This oil painting, titled Portrait of a Man, presents a somber depiction of an unidentified male figure. The work captures a serious individual, whose features are rendered with clarity despite the painting's age. The composition emphasizes the sitter's presence through focused illumination, contrasting him with a subdued background.
Artist & collection
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Lorenzo Ghirardello
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