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Portrait of a Young Man

Technical Details
  • Title
    Portrait of a Young Man
  • Author
    Giovanni Antonio Boltraffio
  • Year
    c. 1491
  • Dimensions
    cm 49 x 39
  • Inventory
    2123
  • Room
    XI

Leonardo joined Ludovico il Moro’s court in Milan in 1482, and Boltraffio was one of his pupils by 1490. Rubbing shoulders with the humanists, Boltraffio became known for his portraits, developing his master’s new approach by capturing his sitter’s psychology. This is one of his first portraits. The sitter’s face is marked by grey shadow, and light is handled with skill. Bottom right, we see the motto: “VITA SI SCIAS/ VTI/ LONGA EST” (Life is long if you know how to use it), taken from a dialogue by the Latin philosopher Seneca.

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