Artwork
Portrait of a Man, Possibly Girolamo Rosati
Portrait of a Man, Possibly Girolamo Rosati is an unspecified painting by the Mannerist artist Lorenzo Lotto. It dates from 1534 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
This painting, Portrait of a Man, Possibly Girolamo Rosati, depicts a seated figure in a dark coat with a symbolic arrangement of objects nearby.
Subject & Meaning
The sitter's gesture is ambiguous, suggesting either conversation or indication of something outside the frame. Objects on the table, including clover and jasmine, convey themes of good fortune, love, and purity, potentially referencing a companion portrait or the sitter's personal life.
Technique & Style
The artist's naturalistic style is evident in the interrupted moment captured in the portrait, diverging from the formality characteristic of other Italian Renaissance portraits. The emphasis on the sitter's individuality and interiority is balanced with an articulation of his social status.
Context
The sitter has been identified as Girolamo Rosati, a high-ranking official in Fermo, Italy, with the paper on the table potentially being a design for one of his architectural projects.
Artist & collection
Artist
Lorenzo Lotto (c. 1480 – 1556/57) was an Italian Renaissance painter, draughtsman, and illustrator, traditionally placed in the Venetian school, though much of his career was spent in other north Italian cities. He…
