Artwork
Portrait of a Gentleman aged 27
Portrait of a Gentleman aged 27 is an oil painting by the Mannerist artist Master of the 1540s. It dates from 1545 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1545, this oil on panel portrait belongs to the Mannerist period and is attributed to the anonymous figure known as the Master of the 1540s, an artist active in the early 1550s. The work is part of the collection of Denmark’s Statens Museum for Kunst and presents a young man identified as twenty‑seven years old.
Subject & Meaning
The sitter is shown with dark hair, a neatly trimmed beard, and dressed in a black hat and doublet with exaggerated, puffed sleeves. He grips a sword in his right hand, a symbol of martial status, while a book rests in his left, suggesting scholarly or literary interests, hinting at a blend of aristocratic and intellectual identity.
Technique & Style
The painting demonstrates typical Mannerist characteristics through elongated forms and stylised gestures. The artist employs chiaroscuro to model the figure against a muted green wall, while layered glazing and subtle impasto give depth to the fabrics and metal. These methods create a polished surface that emphasizes both texture and atmospheric light.
History & Provenance
The work entered the Statens Museum for Kunst’s holdings in the early twentieth century, though its earlier ownership remains undocumented. The anonymous Master of the 1540s is known only through a handful of similar portraits, making this piece a key reference for scholars tracing the artist’s limited oeuvre.
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Artist & collection
Artist
The Master of the 1540s is a notname given to an unidentified artist who was active from 1541 to 1551. The identity of this artist was first brought up by Max Jakob Friedländer in 1936.
Male Portrait
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Portrait of a Gentleman
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Bildnis eines bärtigen Mannes
A Member of the Fröschl Family
Bildnis eines Mannes mit dunkelblondem Vollbart
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Derick Berck of Cologne
Portrait of Willem van Lokhorst (1514-64)
Männliches Bildnis
Portrait of a Gentleman aged 27