NAZARI, Bartolomeo
(b. 1699, Clusone, d. 1758, Milano)

An Old Woman

1730-35
Oil on canvas, 49 x 38 cm
Gemäldegalerie, Dresden

Nazari was regarded as one of the best portrait painters of his day. An Old Man and its companion piece, An Old Woman have all the features of Nazari's character studies. They display his impressively exact painting style, with finely blended brushstrokes, and the use of pronounced chiaroscuro to lend the portrayed figures psychological depth. Despite the considerable detail of the robes, these works are unlikely to be genuine portraits and instead should be located within the character study tradition.