Portrait of a Man c. early 1520s

Rosso Fiorentino painted this Portrait of a Man using oil on wood, a traditional fine art medium and support. What's fascinating here is the tension between the ostensible subject – a member of the elite – and the incredible labor involved in producing both the painting and the depicted clothing. The dark fabrics absorb light, hinting at the expense of the dyes used. Consider the tailoring required to create those puffed sleeves, and the delicate lace at the cuff and collar. The artist’s hand, too, was essential, building up layers of pigment to create the illusion of depth and texture. Fiorentino was celebrated for his disegno, or drawing, which Renaissance artists considered the foundation of all the arts. But this wasn't just about skill. Disegno was about intellectual capacity, the artist’s ability to imagine and represent the world. Ultimately, this portrait is a testament to the power of both artistic and artisanal labor. By looking closely at the materials and processes involved, we can appreciate the rich social context in which it was made, moving beyond conventional distinctions between art and craft.