GHIRLANDAIO, Davide
(b. 1452, Firenze, d. 1525, Firenze)

Portrait of a Young Man

c. 1490
Tempera on wood, 32 x 21 cm
Institute of Arts, Detroit

Before the recent attribution to Davide Ghirlandaio, this portrait was attributed to Domenico Ghirlandaio, Lorenzo Costa or Cosimo Rosselli.

The unidentified sitter of this remarkable portrait wears a red jacket over a black tunic, the red colour being preferred by politically active Florentines. The portrait makes a strong impact because of the small area surrounding the sitter's head. (The presence of the unpainted border on all four sides of the portrait guarantees that the picture was not cut down.)