The laurel branch is a traditional Medici emblem.

Portrait of Cosimo the Elder

Pontormo

The laurel branch is a traditional Medici emblem.

Colors in this work

Details

Artist
Pontormo
Holding institution
Uffizi Gallery
Image provider
wikimedia-commons
License
Public domain
Credit
Uffizi Gallery

Art Genome Taxonomy

10 tags

Subject Matter

  • Individual Portrait Both · 99%

    The title and catalog identify the sitter as Cosimo the Elder, while the image visibly presents a single human sitter in profile.

  • Face Visual · 98%

    The sitter’s face, especially the strongly modeled left-facing profile, is the principal focal point of the composition.

  • Symbolic Composition Both · 98%

    A laurel branch is clearly visible at the left, and the catalog identifies the laurel branch as a traditional Medici emblem.

  • Text Visual · 97%

    Legible letterforms appear on the curled scroll at left and on the wooden chair back behind the sitter.

Visual Qualities

  • Dark Colors Visual · 97%

    Deep brown-black tones dominate the background and foliage, producing a predominantly dark tonal setting.

  • Bright and Vivid Colors Visual · 98%

    The large red cap and robe form a strongly saturated, vivid color field against the dark background.

  • Asymmetrical Visual · 94%

    The figure and chair occupy the central and right portions of the panel, while the foliage and scroll form a distinct vertical element along the left edge.

Medium and Techniques

  • Oil on Panel Metadata · 99%

    The catalog specifies panel and oil paint as the medium.

  • Oil Painting Metadata · 99%

    The catalog identifies the work as a painting executed in oil paint.

Time Periods

  • 16th Century Art Metadata · 99%

    The catalog dates the painting to c. 1518–1520, placing it in the sixteenth century.

Source & rights

Pontormo. Google Arts & Culture — twGoy5ijJE6aLA

High-resolution sources