Portrait of a Young Man

Who doesn't love Bronzino's portraits? They are so insightful and sophisticated!

The identity of this arrogant young man remains unknown, but he likely belonged to Bronzino’s close circle of literary friends in Florence and is probably holding a book of poetry. Bronzino himself was a poet, delighting in the beauty of language as much as in his paintings' witty and fanciful details. Bronzino employs the ancient Roman tradition of fantastical decorations known as grotesques in this work. These are evident in the heads on the table and chair, and in the nearly hidden, mask-like face suggested in the folds of the youth’s breeches. While these monstrous faces contrast with the youth’s handsome appearance, they may also suggest that his carefully crafted look is itself a kind of mask.

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P.S. Bronzino was a brilliant portraitist. His depictions of upper-class ladies radiate with a unique confidence. Take a look at four powerful women painted by Bronzino!