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Portrait of a Young Man Tempera on wood, 28.3 x 19.7 cm, by Cosmè Tura, 1470s Metropolitan Museum, New York |
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This is Tura’s only known
surviving portrait, showing an unidentified member of the Este
family. The subject’s features resemble those of Borso d’Este,
Tura’s patron. His wavy blond hair, red cap, and dark green garment
are sharply defined against a deep blue background, reflecting
Tura’s precision and sculptural approach. The combination of
Ferrarese elegance and Paduan discipline gives the figure a tense,
almost metallic clarity, setting it apart from the softer ideal of
Florentine painting. The portrait’s narrow, portable format suggests
it was intended for private viewing, possibly kept in a case during
travel. At that time, Italian artists typically painted their
subjects in profile, a convention that remained common throughout
much of the fifteenth century until the three-quarter view grew in
popularity. |
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