Solario, a native of Milan and the brother of the sculptor Cristoforo Solario, made a distinguished contribution to painting in Milan and Venice. Solario's manner changed after his return to Milan under the influence of Leonardo, though he retained much of his early individuality.
Solario was active in Venice by 1495, where the development of his early style was influenced by the work of Antonello da Messina and his followers. From 1507 to 1509 he was active in Normandy in the service of Cardinal d'Amboise. His last dated work is of 1515.
Andrea Solario
about 1465 - 1524
Paintings by Andrea Solario
A man carries a pink, or carnation, in his right hand. It was the custom for a bride to hide a pink in her clothes on her wedding day. Its presence here, along with the large blue and gold ring on the man’s left thumb, suggests that the portrait commemorates his marriage.Solario was from Milan t...
Not on display
We know this gentleman’s name – Giovanni Cristoforo Longoni – from the letter he holds, which is addressed to him. His left hand lies flat on the marble parapet before him, drawing attention to his rings, which may indicate his wealth or official status.The format of the portrait, with its landsc...
Not on display
Workshop of Andrea Solario
The infant Christ embraces the Virgin in a pose that very closely resembles – and is probably based on the design for – that in Raphael’s so-called ‘Mackintosh Madonna’, which is also in the National Gallery’s collection. This picture may have been made in Solario’s workshop, or might be a copy o...
Not on display