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Leandro Bassano, 'Portrait of a Bearded Man', about 1600

About the work

Overview

The identity of the man in this bust-length portrait is unknown but it appears to be a true likeness with little attempt at flattery. The top of the man’s head is visible through his thinning hair, and the texture of his skin and beard have been meticulously painted. Although he frowns, the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes make him appear kindly and careworn. Leandro Bassano often employed this simple bust-length format and frowning expression in his portraits.

The paint surface is very damaged, especially on the face and collar. A partially legible Latin inscription at bottom left suggests that the sitter may have been a successful poet or musician and that he wrote or performed for princes. The style of his dress, particularly the large, loose collar, indicates that the portrait was painted in the last years of the sixteenth century, when Leandro Bassano was most in demand as a portraitist in Venice.

Key facts

Details

Full title
Portrait of a Bearded Man
Artist dates
1557 - 1622
Date made
about 1600
Medium and support
oil on canvas
Dimensions
66.3 × 55 cm
Acquisition credit
Bought, 1855
Inventory number
NG2149
Location
Not on display
Collection
Main Collection

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.

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