Portrait of a man

This portrait of an unidentified man dates to around 1530, during Parmigianino's period of activity between Rome and Bologna after the Sack of Rome in 1527 disrupted his Roman sojourn. Parmigianino was one of the finest portraitists of the Cinquecento, combining psychological penetration with his characteristic formal elegance. His portraits influenced generations of later Mannerist painters. Characteristic of Parmigianino's approach, the work displays extreme elegance, elongated forms, serpentine grace, refined palette.

The sitter is rendered with Parmigianino's typical combination of naturalistic observation and idealized refinement. A dark, neutral background focuses attention on the figure, whose costume and pose convey social status with understated sophistication.