Artwork
Man with a Monkey
Man with a Monkey is an oil painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Annibale Carracci. It dates from 1594 and is held in the collection of the Uffizi Gallery.
About this work
Overview
Created circa 1594 by Annibale Carracci, this oil painting presents a solitary figure accompanied by a macaque. The work belongs to the early phase of the Italian Baroque and is part of the Uffizi Gallery’s collection in Florence.
Subject & Meaning
The composition features a young man in a bright yellow shirt, his gaze directed downward, while a Barbary macaque clings to his shoulder and head. The pairing of human and animal reflects a genre motif popular in late‑sixteenth‑century Italy, suggesting themes of companionship, curiosity, or the exotic.
Technique & Style
Carracci employs warm, saturated tones for the figures against a muted, dark background, creating a stark contrast that draws the eye to the interaction. The brushwork combines the clarity of classical drawing with a lively, naturalistic rendering characteristic of his early Baroque approach.
History & Provenance
The painting entered the Uffizi’s holdings at an early date, though the precise acquisition record is unclear. It has remained in the museum’s collection, where it is displayed among other works by Carracci and his contemporaries.
Context
During the 1590s Carracci was establishing a new visual language that merged the compositional balance of the High Renaissance with a more dynamic, emotive sensibility. This work illustrates his interest in everyday subjects and his willingness to incorporate exotic animals, a trend seen in the broader cultural fascination with the natural world.
Artist & collection
Artist
Annibale Carracci ( kə-RAH-chee, UK also kə-RATCH-ee, Italian: ; November 3, 1560 – July 15, 1609) was an Italian painter and instructor, active in Bologna and later in Rome.
