NOTES
The subject’s moody expression and delicate hands draw viewers into this portrait. Although the identity of this figure is unknown, his occupation is revealed by the instrument he rests on and the pick he holds in his right hand. Music was an important part of courtly life in 16th-century Parma, Italy, the city in which this portrait was probably painted.
The musician wears a gold chain hidden by the square neckline of his sleeveless garment. This heavy gold jewelry may have intentionally been placed inside so as not to interfere with his ability to play the instrument. The artist has posed his figure in front of a wall covered in cut velvet; color variations in the background capture the effect of light upon the fabric’s nap.
