Artwork
The miser
The miser is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Giuseppe Nogari. It dates from 1721 and is held in the collection of the Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden.
About this work
Overview
Giuseppe Nogari’s *The Miser* is an oil painting completed in 1721. Executed in the Rococo period, the work presents a half‑length portrait of an elderly man, his white beard and somber expression underscored by a dark backdrop. The composition is held by the Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister, where it remains part of the museum’s permanent collection.
Subject & Meaning
The figure is an aged, bearded man dressed in a plain dark robe, clutching an ornate box that suggests the counting of coins. His focused, serious demeanor conveys a theme of thrift and careful accounting, inviting viewers to contemplate the psychological weight of avarice and the quiet intensity of personal finance.
Technique & Style
Nogari employs chiaroscuro to model the subject’s face and hands, creating a three‑dimensional effect that stands out against the deep black background. The muted palette and restrained decorative elements reflect Rococo sensibilities while emphasizing emotional depth, a hallmark of Nogari’s portraits of older individuals.
History & Provenance
After its creation in early 18th‑century Italy, the painting entered the collection of the Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister in Dresden. Its presence there underscores the museum’s commitment to representing the Rococo era and highlights Nogari’s role as a notable portraitist of his time.
Artist & collection
Artist
Giuseppe Nogari (1699 – 3 December 1766) was an Italian painter of the Rococo. He painted mainly painted half-body portraits, either real or of historical and religious figures. They are striking for their emotional…
