Portrait of a man (copy)

Portrait of a man (copy) (1700) is a work by Bronzino (1503–1572) — the defining court portraitist of Cosimo I de' Medici's Florence and the supreme exponent of Florentine Mannerist elegance. Characteristic of the artist's mature approach, the work displays enamel-smooth surfaces, cool alabaster flesh, psychological distance, and an aristocratic hauteur that made his sitters appear untouchable ideals rather than mortal individuals. As court painter to Cosimo I de' Medici, Bronzino's portraits served dynastic purposes, creating an image of Florentine power that was deliberately elevated above the messiness of individual personality.

Oil on canvas, the portrait demonstrates Bronzino's command of skilled technique and careful observation. The careful modeling of the face reveals close study of the sitter's physiognomy, while the treatment of costume and setting projects appropriate social standing.