Portrait of a Man, possibly Matteo di Sebastiano di Bernardino Gozzadini
Medium
Tempera on wood
Dimensions
Overall 20 3/4 x 14 5/8 in. (52.7 x 37.1 cm); painted surface 19 3/8 x 14 in. (49.2 x 35.6 cm)
Classification
Paintings
Department
Robert Lehman Collection
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Robert Lehman Collection, 1975
Accession Number
1975.1.95
Tags
Art Historical Context
This striking *Portrait of a Man, possibly Matteo di Sebastiano Bernardino Gozzadini*1494?) exemplifies late Quattrocento Italian portraiture Bologna. Painted in tempera on wood by anonymous Maestro delle Storie del Pane—a master identified by a predella series depicting bread miracles—the work captures its subject in sharp profile against a neutral background. The medium, tempera, allowed for luminous detail and durability on panel, a hallmark of Renaissance techniques blending egg yolk with pigments for vibrant, jewel-like colors. The profile pose draws from ancient Roman coins and medals, ...