Artwork
Portrait of a Young Man with a Lamp
Portrait of a Young Man with a Lamp is an oil painting by the High Renaissance artist Lorenzo Lotto. It dates from 1508 and is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum.
About this work
A quiet oil painting from 1508 shows a young man lit by a lamp. Lorenzo Lotto used oil paint to capture the moment in rich color. The work hangs in the Kunsthistorisches Museum.
Painting portraits this way was new. Lotto’s soft lighting makes the face glow against the dark background. It feels personal and alive.
Look up the museum next.
Overview
Portrait of a Young Man with a Lamp is an oil-on-canvas painting created by Italian High Renaissance artist Lorenzo Lotto around 1506. It is part of the collection at the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna, Austria.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts a serene scene of a young man illuminated by a lamp, conveying a sense of intimacy and vitality through Lotto's use of soft, warm lighting against a dark backdrop.
Technique & Style
Lotto employed oil paint to achieve rich, vibrant colors and subtle lighting effects, characteristic of innovative portrait techniques emerging during the High Renaissance.
History & Provenance
Attributed to Lotto's period in Treviso, the painting was acquired by the Kunsthistorisches Museum in 1816, where it remains on display.
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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…
