Italian, Venetian (?), 'Portrait of a Man', about 1750
About the work
Overview
This sitter’s waistcoat and the cuffs of his coat are richly embroidered. His dignified bearing and expensive clothes identify him as a gentleman, but neither his name, nor the identity of the artist, is known. The work probably dates from the middle of the eighteenth century and is possibly by an artist who may have spent time working in Venice.
The artist’s skill can be seen in the way he has portrayed the warmth of the sitter’s gaze and his distinctive facial features, capturing his large nose and dimpled, slightly recessed chin. This man sits or stands against a plain, shadowy background but his face and clothing are brightly lit, revealing a variety of textures. His white neckerchief and powdered wig are described in thick, textured paint, while the embroidery on his waistcoat is evoked with dabs of pink, yellow and white paint.
Key facts
Details
- Full title
- Portrait of a Man
- Artist
- Italian, Venetian (?)
- Date made
- about 1750
- Medium and support
- oil on canvas
- Dimensions
- 75 × 64.5 cm
- Acquisition credit
- Sir Claude Phillips Bequest, 1924
- Inventory number
- NG4041
- Location
- Not on display
- Collection
- Main Collection
Provenance
Bequeathed by Sir Claude Phillips, 1924.
Additional information
Text extracted from the ‘Provenance’ section of the catalogue entry in Michael Levey, ‘National Gallery Catalogues: The Seventeenth and Eighteenth Century Italian Schools’, London 1986; for further information, see the full catalogue entry.
Bibliography
-
1956Levey, Michael, National Gallery Catalogues: The Eighteenth Century Italian Schools, London 1956
-
1986Levey, Michael, National Gallery Catalogues: The Seventeenth and Eighteenth Century Italian Schools, London 1986
-
2001
C. Baker and T. Henry, The National Gallery: Complete Illustrated Catalogue, London 2001
About this record
If you know more about this painting or have spotted an error, please contact us. Please note that exhibition histories are listed from 2009 onwards. Bibliographies may not be complete; more comprehensive information is available in the National Gallery Library.
Images
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