Image scanned/or photographed from transparency and color corrected by Pat Cagney.

Portrait of a Young Man

ArtistAttributed to Santi di Tito (Italian, 1536-1603)

CultureItalian

Dateca. 1560-75

MediumOil on panel

DimensionsOverall: 44 x 33 in. (111.8 x 83.8 cm)
Overall, Frame: 52 x 40 3/4 in. (132.1 x 103.5 cm)

Credit LineGift of Walter P. Chrysler, Jr. in honor of Thomas W. Willcox, Jr.

Object number85.101

On View

Chrysler Museum of Art, Gallery 203

DescriptionThis is an oil on panel painting of a young man. This is a three-quarter length portrait. He is standing with right hand on hip, left hand holding a sword at his side. He appears to be looking off to the left, not at the viewer. His hair is dark brown and cut close to his head. He also has a mustache, side burns and beard, all cut very short. He wears a white padded satin jacket with a high lace ruff at the neck and at the wrists. There are small openings in the jacket to reveal the gold lining underneath. His breeches are ornately done in gold, a delicate layer through which the strap of his sword is visible. His hose are gold colored.

Label TextAttributed to Santi di Tito Italian, Florence (1536-1603) Portrait of a Young Man, ca. 1560-75 Oil on panel Gift of Walter P. Chrysler, Jr., in Honor of Mr. Thomas H. Willcox, Jr. 85.101 A handsome, young nobleman stands proudly before us, his expression reserved, his gaze steady. He rests one hand effortlessly on his hip, the other on the pommel of his sword. Dressed in doublet and hose, he displays the height of European court fashion. His padded satin jacket is richly worked with embroidery and slashes to reveal a gold lining. The black strap of his sword belt shows through the ornately cut velvet strips of his flared breeches. The ruff and matching cuffs are edged in point de venise lace. Such details of costume provide the basis for dating the portrait. While the sitter's identity is not known, his features closely resemble those of members of the Medici family who, in the course of the 16th century, became the Grand Dukes of Tuscany. (Cosimo I's son Francesco and his younger brother Ferdinand are possible candidates for the portrait sitter.) An inscription on the back of the portrait panel notes that the picture once belonged to the Ricardi collection. Aided by the 1612 inventory of that Florentine estate, we can visualize an impressive setting for the Chrysler portrait. In the foyer of the house were displayed together 22 portraits of members of the Medici circle.