Artwork
Portrait of a young Man
Portrait of a young Man is an oil painting by the Mannerist artist Lorenzo Lotto. It dates from 1526 and is held in the collection of the Gemäldegalerie Berlin.
About this work
Overview
Lorenzo Lotto’s portrait, executed in oil on canvas around 1526, depicts a young male sitter. The work bears the artist’s signature, L. Lotus pict., and is presently displayed in Berlin’s Gemäldegalerie. Its composition combines a seated figure with a hinted maritime backdrop, creating a subtle narrative within the portrait.
Subject & Meaning
The painting presents a youthful man, rendered with attentive detail to his attire and expression. A partially concealed curtain in the distance reveals a watery scene, likely alluding to the Venetian lagoon, which may reference the sitter’s origins or aspirations linked to the city’s maritime culture.
Technique & Style
Lotto employs a refined oil technique characteristic of his early Venetian period, using delicate modeling to convey the sitter’s flesh and fabric. The palette balances muted earth tones with richer blues, while the treatment of light suggests the influence of his recent return from Bergamo, aligning the work with other early‑1520s Venetian portraits.
History & Provenance
The portrait entered the collection of marquess Vincenzo Giustiniani by 1638, as recorded in his inventory. In 1815 it left Italy when Parisian dealer Féréol Bonnemaison sold it to King Frederick William III of Prussia. Subsequent museum acquisition placed it in the Gemäldegalerie, where it remains on view.
Context
Originally the foreground featured a marble balustrade, which was removed at an unknown date, leaving only the sitter’s fingertips visible. These fingertips were later painted black to blend with the costume, but a recent restoration uncovered their original coloration, restoring Lotto’s intended detail.
Own this work as a print
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…
