Man with a Missal

Bernardino Licinio painted this Man with a Missal around 1524, depicting a pious Venetian holding a devotional book. Licinio's portraits are distinguished by their directness and physical presence, qualities that set them apart from the more idealized Venetian portraiture tradition Egg tempera on panel was the dominant technique of the period, demanding careful layer-by-layer construction and patient craftsmanship The work is now in the collection of York Art Gallery.

The portrait shows Licinio's characteristic directness with warm Venetian color, strong physical presence, and the careful rendering of the missal that documents the sitter's devotional practice.