ROOM VIII

Era suo proprio ritrarre dal naturale
quanto con più diligenzia si può imaginare

Giorgio Vasari, 1568

THE PORTRAITS

Giorgio Vasari hails Bronzino as one of the most important portrait painters of the 16th century, a master of elegance but also of true-to-life depiction and of intense psychological characterisation. His portraits are at once images of power and the portrayal of an era. A tribute to Bronzino’s lofty poetic as a painter of portraits, the masterpieces included in this section, stretching from the 1530’s to his full maturity, are emblematic effigies of the exalted social and intellectual circles that he frequented with their musicians, admirals, humanists, soldiers and merchants. Each sitter’s virtues are extolled through symbols indicating their specific field: a lute, a mast, a book, a suit of armour or the rich and gorgeous fabric of their attire. But Bronzino was also the bard of the fairer sex, a master in depicting the precious details of their gowns and jewels, without neglecting the symbols of their faith such as books of hours or rosaries, and often adding domestic touches such as a spotted lapdog, which was also a symbol of marital fidelity.

he made portraits of … Pier Antonio Bandini and his wife,
with so many others, that it would be a long work to seek to make mention of them all;
let it suffice that they were all very natural, executed with incredible diligence,
and finished so well, that nothing more could be desired.
Giorgio Vasari, 1568

Bronzino - ROOM VIII