Portrait of a Man

Quinten Massys' Portrait of a Man from 1485 is an early work by the painter who would become Antwerp's most important artist in the early 16th century. The portrait reflects the Netherlandish tradition of sharp-focused, unidealized portraiture established by Jan van Eyck and Rogier van der Weyden. Massys, who trained as a blacksmith before turning to painting according to legend, brought a distinctive physicality to his portrait subjects.

Massys' oil-on-wood technique demonstrates the meticulous Netherlandish approach with smooth, invisible brushwork and careful attention to the fall of light across the sitter's features. The dark background and three-quarter pose follow the standard conventions of early Netherlandish portraiture.