Artwork
Man with Urine Bottle in his Hand
Man with Urine Bottle in his Hand is an oil painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Antonio Zanchi. It dates from 1650 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Overview
Created circa 1650, this oil on canvas by Antonio Zanchi presents a solitary figure clutching a bottle traditionally used for urine. The composition centers the man against a deep, shadowed backdrop, his face illuminated by a focused light that draws the viewer’s attention to his expression and the object he holds.
Subject & Meaning
The work belongs to the genre tradition of the mid‑seventeenth‑century Italian Baroque, where everyday objects often carried symbolic weight. A urine bottle could allude to medical testing, moral judgment, or a humorous commentary on human frailty, inviting contemplation of both the literal and allegorical dimensions of the scene.
Technique & Style
Zanchi employs a pronounced chiaroscuro, juxtaposing bright highlights on the sitter’s visage with enveloping darkness that recedes into the background. This contrast creates a three‑dimensional effect, emphasizing the texture of the dark garments and the reflective surface of the bottle while reinforcing the painting’s somber atmosphere.
History & Provenance
After its creation in Venice, the painting entered the circulation of Northern Italian collections before eventually being acquired by the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. Its presence in a major European museum reflects the broader dissemination of Zanchi’s work beyond his native Veneto.
Context
During the early Italian Baroque, artists increasingly explored genre scenes that combined realistic detail with moral or allegorical undertones. Zanchi, active primarily in Venice, contributed to this trend, integrating theatrical lighting and expressive characterization that echo the period’s fascination with drama and human experience.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Antonio Zanchi (Italian pronunciation: ; 6 December 1631 – 12 April 1722) was an Italian painter of the Baroque, active mainly in Venice, but his prolific works can also be seen in Padova, Treviso, Rovigo, Verona,…
