Who painted Bildnis eines Mannes im Alter von 66 Jahren?

Bildnis eines Mannes im Alter von 66 Jahren was painted by Nicolas Neufchatel in 1564.

Where can I see Bildnis eines Mannes im Alter von 66 Jahren?

Bildnis eines Mannes im Alter von 66 Jahren is held by Bavarian State Painting Collections.

What movement is Bildnis eines Mannes im Alter von 66 Jahren?

Bildnis eines Mannes im Alter von 66 Jahren is associated with Mannerism.

Artwork

Bildnis eines Mannes im Alter von 66 Jahren

Nicolas Neufchatel , 1564

Bildnis eines Mannes im Alter von 66 Jahren is an unspecified painting by the Mannerist artist Nicolas Neufchatel. It dates from 1564 and is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections. Created in 1564, this portrait depicts a man aged sixty‑six, rendered in a restrained, monochrome palette.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1564, this portrait depicts a man aged sixty‑six, rendered in a restrained, monochrome palette. The sitter is shown in a dark, high‑collared robe and a black cap, his hands folded before him, his face framed by a short beard and mustache. A Latin inscription runs across the upper edge, likely recording the date and the subject’s age.

Subject & Meaning

The work presents a dignified, introspective figure, emphasizing the gravitas associated with advanced age. The plain attire and lack of ornamental detail focus attention on the individual’s character rather than status symbols, suggesting a portrait intended to convey personal virtue or familial remembrance rather than public display.

Technique & Style

Executed in the Mannerist idiom, the painting employs precise, linear brushwork and a controlled tonal range that accentuates the sitter’s features without decorative excess. The artist’s handling of light and shadow creates a subtle three‑dimensionality, while the limited palette reinforces the sober mood typical of Northern European portraiture of the period.

History & Provenance

Attributed to the Flemish artist Nicolas Neufchatel, who worked primarily in Germany, the portrait entered the collection of the Alte Pinakothek in Munich, where it remains part of the museum’s holdings of 16th‑century Northern art. Its documented provenance traces back to the artist’s active period in the 1560s, when he was noted for his portraiture.

Context

Neufchatel, sometimes known as Lucidel, was among the foremost portrait painters of the mid‑16th century, catering to a clientele that valued realistic representation over the elaborate allegory of earlier Renaissance works. This painting exemplifies the shift toward individualized, psychologically nuanced portraiture that characterized the Northern Mannerist movement.

Artist & collection

Artist

Nicolas Neufchatel

Nicolas Neufchatel or Neufchâtel (c. 1527 – c. 1590), known as Lucidel, was a Flemish painter and draughtsman. He worked in Germany and was noted as one of the leading portrait painters of the 1560s.