Artwork

Concerto

Concerto, by Bartolomeo Manfredi, unspecified, 1612
Concerto, by Bartolomeo Manfredi, unspecified, 1612

Concerto is an unspecified painting by Bartolomeo Manfredi. It dates from 1612 and is held in the collection of the Uffizi Gallery.

About this work

Overview

The work depicts a small gathering inside a shadowy interior, where figures in early‑17th‑century attire appear engaged in a subdued exchange.

Bartolomeo Manfredi’s oil painting titled Concerto, executed around 1612, is part of the Uffizi Gallery’s collection in Florence. The work depicts a small gathering inside a shadowy interior, where figures in early‑17th‑century attire appear engaged in a subdued exchange. The composition is fragmented by extensive loss of canvas, leaving several sections torn or missing, which obscures the full narrative.

Subject & Meaning

The surviving scene suggests a serious conversation among the participants, some of whom glance upward as if listening to an unseen source of sound or instruction. The subdued atmosphere and the restrained gestures convey a contemplative mood, typical of Manfredi’s interest in intimate, genre‑type moments drawn from everyday life.

Technique & Style

Manfredi employs a limited palette dominated by deep shadows, punctuated with touches of red and white that highlight clothing and facial features. The chiaroscuro treatment creates a dramatic contrast between light and darkness, while the loose brushwork in the damaged areas hints at the artist’s Caravaggesque influence and his skill in rendering texture within a confined space.

History & Provenance

Created circa 1612, Concerto entered the Uffizi’s holdings at an unspecified date, where it remains on display. The painting’s condition reflects centuries of handling; significant portions of the canvas have been lost, resulting in a fragmented appearance that scholars must reconstruct through comparative study of Manfredi’s better‑preserved works.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Bartolomeo Manfredi

Artist

Bartolomeo Manfredi

Bartolomeo Manfredi was an Italian painter, a leading member of the Caravaggisti of the early 17th century.

Uffizi Gallery

Museum

Uffizi Gallery

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This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: Uffizi Gallery open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.