Who painted Young Man Leaning out of the Window?

Young Man Leaning out of the Window was painted by Lluís Borrassà in 1407.

Where can I see Young Man Leaning out of the Window?

Young Man Leaning out of the Window is held by Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya.

What movement is Young Man Leaning out of the Window?

Young Man Leaning out of the Window is associated with Early Renaissance.

Artwork

Young Man Leaning out of the Window

Lluís Borrassà , 1407

Young Man Leaning out of the Window is an unspecified painting by the Early Renaissance artist Lluís Borrassà. It dates from 1407 and is held in the collection of the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1407 by Catalan painter Lluís Borrassà, this small panel shows a youthful figure poised at an arched window.

Created in 1407 by Catalan painter Lluís Borrassà, this small panel shows a youthful figure poised at an arched window. The composition isolates the sitter within the architectural opening, a device common in early Renaissance portraiture. The work belongs to the collection of the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya, where it represents an example of the International Gothic influence in the Crown of Aragon.

Subject & Meaning

The painting presents a young man with short, curly hair, dressed in a red tunic adorned with decorative motifs. He leans forward, his head and torso emerging from the window, while his right hand rests on the sill. His gaze is directed downward, suggesting introspection or a moment of private contemplation, a theme often explored in courtly portraiture of the period.

Technique & Style

Borrassà employs a subtle chiaroscuro, using the dark background to heighten the contrast between the illuminated figure and the surrounding void. The delicate modeling of flesh and the intricate patterning on the tunic reflect the International Gothic’s attention to surface detail, while the spatial recession created by the window frame hints at emerging Renaissance concerns with depth and realism.

History & Provenance

The panel was produced under royal patronage, a testament to Borrassà’s standing at the Aragonese court. After remaining in private or court collections for several centuries, it entered the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya’s holdings, where it now serves as a reference point for early 15th‑century Catalan painting and the diffusion of Gothic aesthetics across the Iberian Peninsula.

Artist & collection

Artist

Lluís Borrassà

Lluís Borrassà (c.1360, Girona? - c.1426, Barcelona?) was a Catalan painter. He was employed by the Crown of Aragon and is widely considered to have introduced the International Gothic painting style into the Principality of Catalonia.