Artwork
Portrait of a Young Man
Portrait of a Young Man is an oil painting. It dates from 1498 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The composition focuses entirely on the individual's physical presence, utilizing oil paint on panel to capture a realistic likeness.
The work depicts a single male figure, identified simply as a man within the context of a portrait genre. Created around 1498 by an anonymous artist of possible French or Burgundian origin, the painting presents a direct, unadorned representation of its subject without explicit narrative action or complex allegorical elements. The composition focuses entirely on the individual's physical presence, utilizing oil paint on panel to capture a realistic likeness.
As a portrait from the late fifteenth century, the piece primarily serves to document the appearance of the sitter rather than to convey a specific symbolic program. The subject remains unnamed in available records.
Technique & Style
The Portrait of a Young Man is executed in oil paint on a wooden panel support. Created circa 1498, this Burgundian or anonymous French work measures 27 centimeters in height and 20.3 centimeters in width. The painting functions as a formal portrait depicting a male subject.
The medium of oil on panel was characteristic of the period's Northern European portraiture, allowing for the detailed rendering of the sitter's features within these modest dimensions.
History & Provenance
Created circa 1498, this oil painting on panel is attributed to an anonymous French artist, possibly of Burgundian origin. The work's documented ownership history includes possession by Michael Friedsam, who subsequently placed it within the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art under accession number 35.186.1. The painting was featured in the 'Loan Exhibition of French Primitives and Objects of Art.'
While the exact circumstances of its original commission remain unrecorded, the work has been consistently classified as a portrait depicting a male subject.
Overview
This oil painting, titled Portrait of a Young Man, presents a solitary figure against a dark, unadorned backdrop. The subject, characterized by his long red hair and simple dark clothing, adopts a calm and introspective pose. The composition draws focus to his face, which is subtly illuminated, creating a sense of depth and quiet contemplation.
Artist & collection
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