The famous French artist and draughtsman Pierre Dumonstier was one of the numerous artist members of the Dumonstier (also known as Dumoustier) family. In the 1580-1590s he was a court painter to Catherine de Medici. In his works Pierre Dumonstier gave much attention to rendering the inner life of models. The youth depicted in the painting is endowed with intellect and will, but his face betrays disillusionment and sadness. This portrait reflects the ideal of human behavior formed in the educational milieu of French society, such as a sense of dignity and the ability to subordinate emotions to reason. The painting is notable for virtuoso painting technique: the softness of a young face is rendered through transparent light and shade and the subtlest colour shades.
Title:
Portrait of a Youth
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Material:
Technique:
oil
Dimensions:
32x19 cm
Acquisition date:
Entered the Hermitage in 1768; acquired from the K. Cobenzl collection in Brussels
Inventory Number:
ГЭ-4313
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Collection:
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