Portrait of a Man Playing a Lute 1576

Bartolomeo Passerotti’s “Portrait of a Man Playing a Lute” is a striking example of Renaissance portraiture, executed in 1576. The painting depicts a man, likely a member of the Italian aristocracy, in elegant dress, holding a lute and gazing intently at the viewer. His posture is relaxed and his expression confident, conveying a sense of both refinement and artistry. Passerotti, known for his masterful use of light and shadow, employed a rich color palette, capturing the textures of the man’s clothing, the instrument, and the subtle play of light across the scene. The painting offers a window into the musical culture of 16th-century Italy, with the lute, a popular instrument of the time, serving as a symbol of both leisure and refinement.