Who painted Portrait of a Man?

Portrait of a Man was painted by Lorenzo Lotto in 1525.

Where can I see Portrait of a Man?

Portrait of a Man is held by Statens Museum for Kunst.

What movement is Portrait of a Man?

Portrait of a Man is associated with Mannerism.

Artwork

Portrait of a Man

Lorenzo Lotto , 1525

Portrait of a Man is an oil painting by the Mannerist artist Lorenzo Lotto. It dates from 1525 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1525, the oil painting titled *Portrait of a Man* is attributed to Lorenzo Lotto, an Italian painter whose career spanned the High Renaissance and the early Mannerist period. The work is part of the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst and exemplifies Lotto’s focus on individualized portraiture.

Subject & Meaning

The canvas depicts a seated gentleman in dark clothing, a hat, and a fur‑trimmed coat. He holds a paper in his left hand, wears a ring on his right, and gazes directly at the viewer with a serious expression, suggesting a formal, perhaps civic or professional identity.

Technique & Style

Lotto employs chiaroscuro to model the figure against a deep, dark background, giving the portrait a three‑dimensional presence. The pose is slightly off‑balance, a subtle nod to the emerging Mannerist tendency toward dynamic, less static compositions while retaining High Renaissance realism.

History & Provenance

Since its creation, the painting has remained in private and institutional hands before entering the Statens Museum for Kunst. Its attribution to Lotto rests on stylistic analysis linking it to his known body of work from the 1520s.

Context

During the 1520s Lotto was active in northern Italy, producing both religious altarpieces and secular portraits. This work reflects the period’s growing interest in portraying individuals with psychological depth, a hallmark of Lotto’s portraiture.

Artist & collection

Artist

Lorenzo Lotto

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…