Artwork

Bildnis der Violante

Bildnis der Violante, by Paris Bordone, unspecified, 1550
Bildnis der Violante, by Paris Bordone, unspecified, 1550

Bildnis der Violante is an unspecified painting by the Mannerist artist Paris Bordone. It dates from 1550 and is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections.

About this work

Overview

Bildnis der Violante is a portrait painting created by Paris Bordone, a Venetian artist influenced by Titian, around 1550. It is housed in the Alte Pinakothek.

Subject & Meaning

The subject, Violante, is depicted standing against a somber backdrop, dressed in a dark, puffy-sleeved gown with fur trim and a white collar. Her pulled-back hair and the small, unidentified object in her right hand contribute to an enigmatic presence, with her expression being a focal point.

Technique & Style

Bordone employed strong chiaroscuro, emphasizing light and shadow to accentuate Violante's facial features and the textures of her attire, blending Mannerist intricacy with a robust, provincial aesthetic.

History & Provenance

Executed circa 1550 within the Mannerist movement, the painting's specific commission context or Violante's identity are not detailed in available information.

Context

As a work of the Mannerist period, Bildnis der Violante reflects the era's emphasis on emotional depth and intricate composition, while Bordone's provincial Venetian background may have influenced the work's unique vigor.

Legacy

While specific influences or direct artistic heirs are not highlighted, the painting remains a characteristic example of mid-16th-century Venetian Mannerism, with its stylistic blend contributing to the broader artistic dialogue of the time.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Paris Bordone

Artist

Paris Bordone

Paris Bordone (Paris Paschalinus Bordone; 5 July 1500 – 19 January 1571) was an Italian painter of the Venetian Renaissance who, despite training with Titian, maintained a strand of Mannerist complexity and provincial vigor.