Ritratto di ragazzo 1481 Pinturicchio (Bernardino di Betto) (c.1452-1513)
Pinturicchio – Ritratto di ragazzo 1481
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Painter: Pinturicchio (Bernardino di Betto)
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The boy in the portrait is depicted in the background of nature. You can see the city, green bushes, a distant grove, trees, with transparent brown leaves against a dawn sky yellow near the horizon. All around, autumn reigns, cool, early, golden and beautiful. The shimmering colors would be beautiful even if they were a landscape in their own right. The boy who turns them into a portrait, however, looks their flesh from their flesh.
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Description of Pinturicchio’s painting "Portrait of a Boy
The boy in the portrait is depicted in the background of nature. You can see the city, green bushes, a distant grove, trees, with transparent brown leaves against a dawn sky yellow near the horizon. All around, autumn reigns, cool, early, golden and beautiful. The shimmering colors would be beautiful even if they were a landscape in their own right.
The boy who turns them into a portrait, however, looks their flesh from their flesh. He is dressed in a red shirt with a grayish hat. His brown hair reaches to his shoulders, his face looks delicate, like a girl’s. His nose is reddish, as are his cheeks - apparently the weather is already cool enough - his eyes are dark, his lips are plump, and his chin seems unnecessarily soft, not masculine.
However, the expression of the boy’s eyes is suitable for a grown man. He looks at the viewer seriously, as if he has disturbed his peace or is unwilling to answer the question that has been asked of him. This is how a young squire of a noble knight might look at a peasant who refuses to give him the way, or a young prince at a dragon who won’t let him through to the princess. The boy’s head is tilted back, his chin slightly up, he looks down as if he is used to this position.
Perhaps he is the son of a rich man, or engaged from birth to the daughter of a noble family. Or perhaps it is just his characteristic sullenness and a heightened sense of self-worth that makes it impossible for him to look down on anyone.
He looks about twelve years old. He’s just starting out in life, and he already finds life to be a pretty funny, if unindulgent, place. Perhaps he has seen someone’s death or encountered misfortune. There is an unchildlike seriousness in his gaze, and perhaps what appears to be arrogance is really just some question plaguing him - the meaning of life or the meaning of his own birth.
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The artist has rendered the boy with meticulous attention to detail. Skin tones are subtly modulated, suggesting a youthful complexion and delicate features. The hair, a rich auburn color, falls loosely around his shoulders, framing his face and adding softness to the presentation. He is adorned with a dark blue cap, its texture carefully depicted through variations in tone and light. His attire consists of a simple red garment, the fabric rendered with a smooth, almost velvety quality that contrasts with the more textured depiction of his hair and skin.
The landscape behind him provides a sense of depth and context. A body of water reflects the sky, while distant hills are shrouded in atmospheric perspective, creating a feeling of vastness. The trees on either side of the figure appear somewhat stylized, their forms contributing to the overall formal quality of the work.
Subtleties within the portrait suggest layers of meaning beyond a simple likeness. The boy’s expression is not overtly joyful or sorrowful; rather, it conveys a sense of seriousness and perhaps even melancholy. This restraint in emotional display could be interpreted as indicative of social expectations for young men during the period – a call to maturity and responsibility. The choice of red for his garment might symbolize vitality or status, while the dark cap suggests a certain formality or belonging to a specific group.
The landscape itself is not merely decorative; it serves to place the subject within a broader context, hinting at his connection to the natural world and perhaps suggesting aspirations beyond his immediate surroundings. The overall effect is one of restrained elegance and quiet dignity, presenting a young man poised on the threshold of adulthood.