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Bronzino, 'Portrait of a Young Man', probably 1550-5

Key facts
Full title Portrait of a Young Man
Artist Bronzino
Artist dates 1503 - 1572
Date made probably 1550-5
Medium and support Oil on wood
Dimensions 75 × 57.5 cm
Acquisition credit On loan from a private collection
Inventory number L40
Location Room 12
Image copyright On loan from a private collection, © Private collection
Collection Main Collection
Portrait of a Young Man
Bronzino

It has previously been thought that this portrait may represent one of the elder sons of Duke Cosimo de' Medici, Bronzino's principal patron. Scholars have also suggested he may be the sculptor Pierino da Vinci or the painter Francesco Salviati. However, each of these theories is in some way problematic, and the young man's identity currently remains a mystery. A clue may lie in the sculpture of the god Bacchus which is revealed behind the pink curtain. In other portraits by Bronzino the accessories and costumes of the sitters are often relevant to their identitites.

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