Artwork
Monsignor della Casa
Monsignor della Casa is an oil painting by the Mannerist artist Pontormo. It dates from 1542 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Pontormo's "Monsignor della Casa," painted around 1541-1544, is an oil on panel now housed at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.
Pontormo's "Monsignor della Casa," painted around 1541-1544, is an oil on panel now housed at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. This painting depicts a man, identified as Giovanni della Casa, author of Galateo. He is shown in elegant dark attire and a large hat, gazing directly at the viewer with a composed and serious expression. The artist emphasizes the sitter's face, rendered with considerable detail and realism.
Subject & Meaning
The subject of this portrait is now understood to be Giovanni della Casa, a prominent figure known for his influential book on etiquette, *Galateo*. For a period, the sitter was mistakenly identified as Niccolò Ardinghelli. Pontormo's depiction captures a specific individual, presenting a direct and contemplative presence that invites engagement from the observer. The focus on his features suggests an interest in conveying his intellectual and social standing.
Technique & Style
Pontormo rendered the sitter's face with striking realism and intricate detail, making it the central focus of the composition. The man's dark, formal clothing and broad hat frame his features, drawing the eye to his calm and serious gaze. The artist's skillful manipulation of light and shadow contributes to the three-dimensional quality of the face, enhancing its lifelike appearance and conveying a sense of depth and presence within the panel.
History & Provenance
At the beginning of the 20th century, this painting was part of the marquess Bargagli's collection in Florence. It was sold in Paris in 1909, at which time it was attributed to Sebastiano del Piombo. The artwork subsequently passed through several private hands before Alessandro Contini Bonacossi acquired it in 1922. In 1952, it joined the Samuel H. Kress Foundation collection, which then donated it to its current home, the National Gallery of Art, in 1961.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Jacopo Carucci or Carrucci (IPA: ; May 24, 1494 – January 2, 1557), usually known as Jacopo (da) Pontormo or simply Pontormo (IPA: ), was an Italian Mannerist painter and portraitist from the Florentine School.
