Artwork
Bildnis des Malers Jobst Seyfrid
Bildnis des Malers Jobst Seyfrid is an unspecified painting by the Northern Renaissance artist Rueland Frueauf the Elder. It dates from 1496 and is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum.
About this work
Overview
Rueland Frueauf the Elder painted this portrait in 1496. The work is part of the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna, where it is displayed among other late‑medieval pieces.
Subject & Meaning
The sitter is a middle‑aged man with short dark hair, a serious expression, and a low‑set red cap covering his forehead. He wears a striped shirt with a dark collar, set against a plain, dark background that emphasizes his face.
Technique & Style
Frueauf employs careful modeling of light and shadow to give the facial features a solid, three‑dimensional quality. The limited palette—primarily reds, dark tones, and muted stripes—creates a restrained yet striking visual contrast.
Context
Created at the close of the 15th century, the portrait reflects the transitional period between Gothic conventions and emerging Renaissance sensibilities in Austrian art, where attention to individual likeness began to gain prominence.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Rueland Frueauf the Elder (1440–1507) was an artist, born in Obernberg am Inn.
