Artwork
Man Holding a Book
Man Holding a Book is an unspecified painting by the High Renaissance artist Parmigianino. It dates from 1529 and is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum. Created around 1529, this oil painting on poplar panel depicts a solitary figure seated against a dark backdrop.
About this work
Overview
Created around 1529, this oil painting on poplar panel depicts a solitary figure seated against a dark backdrop. The work is attributed to the Italian Mannerist Parmigianso and is part of the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna. The composition centers on a man in a somber robe, his head inclined on his hand, with an open, weathered book placed before him.
Subject & Meaning
The figure appears contemplative, his weary expression suggesting study or introspection. The presence of the opened volume, its pages yellowed and edges frayed, reinforces a theme of scholarly pursuit or perhaps the passage of time. The muted demeanor and solitary setting invite viewers to consider the personal, perhaps intellectual, concerns of the sitter.
Technique & Style
Parmigianso employs a pronounced chiaroscuro, rendering the folds of the robe and the planes of the face with deep shadows that give a sculptural quality to the form. The limited palette and the stark contrast between the illuminated figure and the enveloping darkness focus attention on the subject, while the delicate handling of the book’s texture adds realism.
History & Provenance
The painting entered the Austrian imperial collection in the 18th century and has remained in the Kunsthistorisches Museum since its establishment. Documentation traces its attribution to Parmigianso through stylistic analysis and archival references, confirming its creation in the late 1520s, a period when the artist was exploring elongated figures and dramatic lighting.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Girolamo Francesco Maria Mazzola (11 January 1503 – 24 August 1540), also known as Francesco Mazzola or, more commonly, as Parmigianino (UK: , US: , Italian: ; "the little one from Parma"), was an Italian Mannerist…
Bärtiger Mann mit Handschuh
Bărbat cu barbă roșcată
Bildnis eines Mannes mit Barett und Handschuhen
Bildnis eines bärtigen Mannes mit Barett
Self portrait with pen, inkpot and sketchbook
Männliches Bildnis
Portrait of a Man in Fur-lined Coat with Gloves
Bildnis eines jungen Mannes mit Barett und Handschuhen
Singing man, possibly a self-portrait
Portrait of a bearded man, aged 34, before an extensive landscape
Self-portrait
Portrait of a Man Holding a Rose