Portrait of a Gentleman 1580

"Portrait of a Gentleman" is a 1580 oil painting by the Italian artist Bartolomeo Passerotti. The painting, which measures 40.5 x 31.7 cm, depicts a man with a long, white beard and a ruff collar, a common style of clothing during the Renaissance era. Passerotti was known for his masterful use of light and shadow, and the portrait's realism gives viewers a glimpse into the life of an ordinary 16th-century man. This portrait is a fine example of Passerotti's work during his later career, as he specialized in portraits of both prominent figures and everyday individuals. The realistic portrayal of the sitter, with the detailed rendering of the man's features, exemplifies the development of portraiture during this period, moving away from idealized depictions of the past to a more realistic approach.