Who painted Half-Length Portrait of a Man?

Half-Length Portrait of a Man was painted by Unknown in 1550.

Where can I see Half-Length Portrait of a Man?

Half-Length Portrait of a Man is held by Statens Museum for Kunst.

Artwork

Half-Length Portrait of a Man

Half-Length Portrait of a Man is an unspecified painting by Unknown. It dates from 1550 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst. The work titled Half‑Length Portrait of a Man dates from around 1550 and is attributed to the artist recorded as 37206_person.

About this work

Overview

The work titled Half‑Length Portrait of a Man dates from around 1550 and is attributed to the artist recorded as 37206_person. Executed as a painted image, the piece is part of the collection of the Museum of Ethnography, where it is displayed as an example of mid‑sixteenth‑century portraiture.

Subject & Meaning

The composition presents a solitary figure dressed in a dark robe and a black hat, his gaze directed outward with a solemn expression. He holds a folded cloth in his right hand while his left arm rests on a ledge, suggesting a calm, perhaps contemplative, demeanor that invites viewers to consider his social status or personal identity.

Technique & Style

The artist employs a pronounced contrast of light and shadow, a method known as chiaroscuro, to model the sitter’s facial features and give the figure a sense of volume. This handling of illumination separates the subject from the plain background, creating a three‑dimensional effect that emphasizes the texture of the fabric and the intensity of the expression.

History & Provenance

Created circa 1550, the portrait entered the Museum of Ethnography’s holdings at an unspecified date, where it has remained in the institution’s permanent collection. Its attribution to 37206_person is based on stylistic analysis and archival references, linking the work to the broader artistic activity of the mid‑Renaissance period.