Portrait of a Man

Portrait of a Man (1567) – Detail
Giovanni Battista Moroni (1521-1580)
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A 29-year-old young man with light brown, alert eyes looks at us – confident and curious.
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There is something gentle about the look, but also something very powerful. – The viewer cannot escape this view.
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The beard is fine and youthfully fluffy. Above the upper lip, the beard appears to have faded somewhat and to have a reddish-brown shimmer.
The complexion is fair and slightly red in some places. These details emphasize the youthfulness of the person depicted.
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Powerful, gentle, self-confident and sensual in a unique way, this portrait speaks directly emotionally to the viewer.
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With this description I try to understand why Moroni’s portraits generally captivate me so much.
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This painting can also be seen in the worthwhile exhibition “Moroni (1521-1580)” A Portrait of His Time” (December 6, 2023 – April 1, 2024) in the Galleria d’Italia, Milan.
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Portrait of a Man (1567) – detail, Giovanni Battista Moroni (1521–1580), oil on canvas, 56 x 44 cm, Accademia Carrara, Bergamo
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Photo: Peter J. Spoerer © – All rights reserved