Portrait of a Man 1514 - 1550

Callisto Piazza painted this oil on panel portrait of a man, which measures 41 by 30 centimeters, sometime in the 16th century. The painting presents a somber figure set against a dark, almost indistinguishable background. Piazza employs a tightly controlled palette, focusing on muted browns, blacks, and creams to construct the man’s likeness. The composition is structured around a play of textures, contrasting the soft fur collar with the firmer rendering of the face and the dense, matte surface of the hat. The man's gaze, directed slightly off-center, invites a sense of introspection. Piazza uses light to sculpt form, carefully modeling the face to reveal structure and depth. The painting is an exercise in formal constraints, using a limited range of color and texture to explore the psychological depth of the subject. This focus serves to isolate and intensify the viewer's engagement with the sitter's presence.