Portrait of a Man, possibly Matteo di Sebastiano di Bernardino Gozzadini

Art Historical Context

This striking *Portrait of a Man, possibly Matteo di Sebastiano Bernardino Gozzadini*1494?) exemplifies late Quattrocento Italian portraiture Bologna. Painted in tempera on wood by anonymous Maestro delle Storie del Pane—a master identified by a predella series depicting bread miracles—the work captures its subject in sharp profile against a neutral background. The medium, tempera, allowed for luminous detail and durability on panel, a hallmark of Renaissance techniques blending egg yolk with pigments for vibrant, jewel-like colors. The profile pose draws from ancient Roman coins and medals, revived during the Italian Renaissance to evoke classical dignity and status. Measuring about 20¾ x 14⅝ inches, this intimate bust likely commemorates a prominent Bolognese figure from the influential Gozzadini family, underscoring the era's emphasis on individualized likenesses for the elite. Housed in the Robert Lehman Collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art since 1975, it reflects the refined naturalism of Bolognese painting, bridging Gothic traditions with emerging Renaissance humanism. Visitors will appreciate how such portraits preserved social memory, offering a window into 15th-century Italy's cultured patronage.