Artwork
Bildnis eines barhäuptigen Mannes
Bildnis eines barhäuptigen Mannes is an unspecified painting by the Mannerist artist Bernardino Licinio. It dates from 1532 and is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1532, this portrait by Bernardino Licinio—an Italian painter active in Venice and Lombardy—shows a beardless man rendered in a restrained, muted palette. The work is part of the Kunsthistorisches Museum’s collection and exemplifies the transition from High Renaissance balance toward the more stylized Mannerist approach.
Subject & Meaning
The sitter is presented from the waist upward, dressed in dark clothing with a white shirt visible beneath a black jacket or cloak. His short hair, serious expression, and modest pose suggest a dignified, possibly middle‑class individual, though no specific identity is recorded.
Technique & Style
Licinio employs fine brushwork to delineate the fabric’s subtle stripes and patterns, while the background is a flat, earthy brown that isolates the figure. The composition’s elongated proportions and the slightly exaggerated hand gesture reflect Mannerist tendencies that move beyond the harmonious ideals of the earlier Renaissance.
History & Provenance
The painting entered the Kunsthistorisches Museum’s holdings, where it remains on display. Its provenance prior to museum acquisition is not fully documented, but it aligns with Licinio’s known output of portraiture for affluent patrons in the early sixteenth century.
Context
During the early 1500s, Venetian and Lombard artists were experimenting with new expressive forms. Licinio, primarily recognized for religious scenes and portraits of the wealthy, incorporated the emerging Mannerist aesthetic, emphasizing elegance and refined detail over strict naturalism.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Bernardino Licinio (c. 1489 in Poscante – 1565) was an Italian High Renaissance painter of Venice and Lombardy. He mainly painted portraits and religious canvases.
