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Portrait of an Ecclesiastic
Italy, 16th century
Oil on panel. 27 1/4 x 20 1/4 in. (69 x 51 cm)
Gift of Michael W. Straight. 81.130.1
Although the artist is still unidentified, the Portrait of an Ecclesiastic
is a fine example of Florentine painting of the early sixteenth century.
The overall sense of elegance and strength is typical. The ecclesiastic,
identified as such by his garments, is positioned before a natural landscape
whose sky is carefully graded, although now it has darkened considerably
with age, as has his cloak. A tiny unidentified city is located in the distance
to the right.
Once attributed to the likes of Raphael, Pordenone, and Genga, the most
likely attribution is to the circle of the late Piero di Cosimo or the early
Ridolfo Ghirlandaio. Late Piero and early Ridolfo are often confused, and
attributions continue to go back and forth. The more monumental style, and
the handling of hair and other features, seem to point to an attribution
to the circle of Piero more than any other artist. Similarly, the identity
of the sitter has never been determined, although it has been suggested
that he is Evangelista Andrea Tarasconi, secretary to Pope Julius II from
1503 to 1513 and Pope Leo X from 1513 to 1521.
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