Portrait of a Man
1621
Medium
Oil on copper
Dimensions
Oval, 4 1/8 x 3 5/8 in. (105 x 91 mm)
Classification
Miniatures
Department
European Paintings
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Mary Anna Palmer Draper, 1914
Accession Number
15.43.291
Tags
Art Historical Context
**Portrait of a Man** the enigmatic Monogrammist IS the intimate essence of 17th-century portraiture a diminutive oval format, measuring just 4 1/8 x 3 5/8 inches. Painted in 1621 with oil on copper, this exemplifies a prized technique of the era: copper's, reflective surface allowed artists to achieve exquisite detail and luminous glow, ideal for jewelry-like keepsakes worn close to the heart or displayed in private cabinets. Emerging during the early Baroque period in Europe, such miniatures served as personal talismans—tokens of affection, status symbols for the elite, or diplomatic gifts....