Skip to main content

Francesco Bonsignori, 'Portrait of an Elderly Man', 1487

Key facts
Full title Portrait of an Elderly Man
Artist Francesco Bonsignori
Artist dates 1455/60? - 1519?
Date made 1487
Medium and support egg tempera on wood
Dimensions 41.9 × 29.8 cm
Inscription summary Signed; Dated
Acquisition credit Bought, 1864
Inventory number NG736
Location Not on display
Collection Main Collection
Portrait of an Elderly Man
Francesco Bonsignori
/

In late fifteenth-century Venice, a striking style of portraiture – derived from Netherlandish portraiture – was being popularised in the city by the Sicilian artist Antonello da Messina; this is a typical example of it. The dark background, the three-quarter pose and the sharp lighting used here were key features of the style.

Here, Bonsignori has very closely observed the old man’s unique features, including his distinctive nose and ear, and his wrinkles. Drawing was very important in Bonsignori’s artistic process; his style drew upon the precision of Mantegna, an artist he knew. For this portrait, he made a detailed drawing to use as a guide, which he transferred to the panel like a tracing. There is also a surviving preparatory study for the portrait in the Albertina Museum, Vienna.

Download image
Download low-resolution image

Download a low-resolution copy of this image for personal use.

License this image

License and download a high-resolution image for reproductions up to A3 size from the National Gallery Picture Library.

License image
Download low-resolution image

This image is licensed for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons agreement.

Examples of non-commercial use are:

  • Research, private study, or for internal circulation within an educational organisation (such as a school, college or university)
  • Non-profit publications, personal websites, blogs, and social media

The image file is 800 pixels on the longest side.

As a charity, we depend upon the generosity of individuals to ensure the collection continues to engage and inspire. Help keep us free by making a donation today.

Download low-resolution image

You must agree to the Creative Commons terms and conditions to download this image.

Creative Commons Logo