Who painted Familienbild?

Familienbild was painted by Bartolomeo Passarotti.

Where can I see Familienbild?

Familienbild is held by Kunsthistorisches Museum.

What movement is Familienbild?

Familienbild is associated with Mannerism.

Artwork

Familienbild

Bartolomeo Passarotti

Familienbild is an unspecified painting by the Mannerist artist Bartolomeo Passarotti. It is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum.

About this work

Overview

Bartolomeo Passarotti, a Bolognese painter of the late sixteenth century, completed the work titled *Familienbild* in 1593. The oil painting presents a domestic trio—a man, a woman, and a child—arranged within an interior space and is part of the Kunsthistorisches Museum’s holdings.

Subject & Meaning

The arrangement emphasizes familial bonds and the roles of each figure within the household.

The composition shows the father in a dark doublet and ruff, holding an apple while gesturing with his free hand; the mother sits on a wooden chair, clad in a dark dress with a light shawl and clutching a small bouquet; the child stands between them, dressed in lighter fabrics and grasping the father’s sleeve. The arrangement emphasizes familial bonds and the roles of each figure within the household.

Technique & Style

Executed in a mannerist idiom, the figures display elongated proportions and a refined, balanced layout. Passarotti employs chiaroscuro, concentrating light on faces and hands against a plain red wall, which creates a subtle three‑dimensional effect and highlights the textures of clothing and objects.

History & Provenance

Created in Bologna during Passarotti’s mature period, the painting entered the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum, where it remains on display. Its provenance prior to museum acquisition is not extensively documented, but it reflects the artist’s reputation for portraiture in the late Renaissance.

Context

Passarotti’s career coincided with the transition from High Renaissance naturalism to the more stylized mannerism that favored elegant poses and complex compositions. *Familienbild* exemplifies this shift, integrating detailed individual likenesses with a composed, idealized group setting typical of late sixteenth‑century Bolognese art.

Artist & collection

Artist

Bartolomeo Passarotti

Bartolomeo Passarotti or Passerotti (1529–1592) was an Italian painter of the mannerist period, who worked mainly in his native Bologna. His family name is also spelled Passerotti or Passarotto.