Artwork
Don Baldassare di Antonio di Angelo

Don Baldassare di Antonio di Angelo is an oil painting by the High Renaissance artist Pietro Perugino. It dates from 1500 and is held in the collection of the Uffizi Gallery.
About this work
Overview
Created around the turn of the 16th century, this oil painting by Pietro Perugino presents a solitary figure in a restrained composition. The work measures a modest size and is executed on a panel, typical of the period’s portraiture. It now forms part of the collection at the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, where it is displayed among other works of the High Renaissance.
Subject & Meaning
The sitter is a Franciscan friar, identifiable by his shaved tonsure and modest habit. Rendered in a three‑quarter pose, he looks slightly toward the viewer, his expression calm and contemplative. The portrait emphasizes the spiritual humility of the order, focusing on the individual’s inner serenity rather than external ornamentation.
Technique & Style
Perugini’s handling of oil paint is smooth yet richly layered, allowing subtle gradations of light across the face. A dark, neutral backdrop heightens the warm, golden tones of the skin, while delicate chiaroscuro models the cheek, ear, and neck. The composition reflects the Umbrian school’s preference for balanced, harmonious arrangements characteristic of the High Renaissance.
History & Provenance
The painting was likely commissioned circa 1500, a period when Perugino was at the height of his career in Umbria. It entered the Uffizi’s holdings through the Medici collection, transferred to the museum in the 18th century as part of the broader acquisition of Renaissance works. Its attribution to Perugino has been consistently affirmed by scholarly research.
Artist & collection
Artist
Pietro Perugino (US: PERR-ə-JEE-noh, -oo-; Italian: ; born Pietro Vannucci or Pietro Vanucci; c.



















