Portrait of a Youth
c. 1485
Painter, Florentine, 1457 - 1504
Filippino Lippi was the son of the painter Fra Filippo Lippi, who was undoubtedly the boy's first master. After his father died in 1469, he became a pupil of Botticelli, who had a profound influence on his style. In fact, the Washington portrait comes so close to Botticelli's style that there has been considerable disagreement among scholars as to exactly which artist was responsible for it. Although it has been attributed more often to Botticelli than to Filippino, most recent authors are now agreed that it is by the younger painter. In 1483 or 1484, Filippino was assigned the task of finishing Masaccio's great frescoes in the Brancacci Chapel in Florence. This portrait bears a great resemblance to a young man portrayed there by Filippino.
During the Gothic era and early Renaissance, donors of a painting would often be portrayed as tiny figures praying at the lower edge of a painting, as in Crivelli's Madonna Enthroned with Donor. During the Renaissance a new interest in the individual, in human character and feeling, gave rise to the genre of portraiture as an artistic expression. Filippino's likeness of an unknown sitter shows a young man dressed in the typically plain costume of a well-to-do Florentine of the time.
West Building Main Floor, Gallery 6
Artwork overview
-
Medium
oil and tempera on panel
-
Credit Line
-
Dimensions
overall: 52.1 x 36.5 cm (20 1/2 x 14 3/8 in.)
framed: 90.8 x 71.8 x 15.2 cm (35 3/4 x 28 1/4 x 6 in.) -
Accession
1937.1.20
Artwork history & notes
Provenance
(Stefano Bardini [1836-1922], Florence), in the later 1880s; purchased 1890 by Prince Johann II von Liechtenstein [1840-1929], Vienna;[1] by descent to Prince Franz I von Liechtenstein [1853-1938], Vienna; (M. Knoedler & Co., New York and London), c. 1920; Mr. and Mrs. Frank D. Stout, Chicago, by 1924;[2] consigned November 1930 by Mrs. Stout to (M. Knoedler & Co., New York and London);[3] sold November 1930 to Andrew W. Mellon, Pittsburgh and Washington, D.C.; deeded 30 March 1932 to The A.W. Mellon Educational and Charitable Trust, Pittsburgh;[4] gift 1937 to NGA.
[1] According to Fiorenza Scalia and Cristina De Benedictis, Il Museo Bardini a Firenze, Milan, 1984: 121, the painting is registered under the year 1890, when, after having been sold by Stefano Bardini to Prince Johann II of Liechtenstein, it was presented to the export office of the Soprintendenza delle Belle Arti in Florence. Although the two authors erroneously report its location as the Johnson Collection in Philadelphia, there seems to be no doubt that the reference is to the NGA painting.
[2] Fern Rusk Shapley, Catalogue of the Italian Paintings, 2 vols., Washington, D.C., 1979: 1:258, gives c. 1925 as the date of the painting's passage from the Liechtenstein collection into that of Frank D. Stout; however, already in 1921 Wilhelm von Bode (Sandro Botticelli, Berlin, 1921: 106) reports the work as having been purchased by an American collector, and in 1924 the painting was exhibited in Chicago as part of the Stout Collection. See Bulletin of the Art Institute of Chicago, 18, no. 6 (September 1924): 76 (repro.); 18, no. 7 (October 1924): 90.
[3] According to the Knoedler stock books, the painting was consigned by Mrs. Stout as Knoedler's number CA 267 (Getty Provenance Index).
[4] Mellon purchase date and date deeded to Mellon Trust are according to Mellon collection files in NGA curatorial records and David Finley's notebook (donated to the National Gallery of Art in 1977, now in the Gallery Archives).
Associated Names
Exhibition History
1924
Loan Collection of Mr. and Mrs. Frank D. Stout, Art Institute of Chicago, 1924, no cat., illustrated in AIC Bulletin, September 1924: 76, as Young Man in Red Cap by Alessandro Botticelli.
2018
Florence and its Painters: From Giotto to Leonardo da Vinci, Bayerische Staatsgemäldesammlungen, Munich, 2018-2019.
Bibliography
1892
Bode, Wilhelm von. “Die Fürstlich Liechtenstein’schl Galerie in Vien der Bilder Italienischen Meister.” Die Graphischen Künste 15 (1892): 94-98, as by Botticelli.
1893
Ulmann, Hermann. Botticelli. Munich, 1893: 51-52, as by Botticelli.
1896
Bode, Wilhem von. Die Fürstlich Liechtenstein'sche Galerie in Wien. Vienna, 1896: repro., as by Botticelli.
1899
Berenson, Bernard. “Amico di Sandro” Gazette des Beaux-Arts 41 (1899): 466 (part 1); 29, 30, 33, repro. (part 2), as by Amico di Sandro.
1900
Plunkett, George N. Sandro Botticelli. London, 1900: 99, as by Botticelli.
Berenson, Bernard. The Florentine Painters of the Renaissance, 2nd ed. New York and London, 1900: 98, as by Amico di Sandro.
1901
Venturi, Adolfo. Storia dell’arte italiana. 11 vols. Milan, 1901-1940: 7(1911):642-643, as by Botticelli (?).
Berenson, Bernard. The Study and Criticism of Italian Art. London, 1901: 63, as by Amico di Sandro.
1903
Davey, Richard. Botticelli. New York and London, 1903: xv, as by Botticelli.
1904
Schaeffer, Emil. Das Florentiner Bildnis. Munich, 1904: 110, repro., as by Amico di Sandro.
Suida, Wilhelm. Die Gemäldegalerie der K.K. Akademie der bildenden Künste. Die Sammlungen Kiechtenstein, Czernin, Harrach und Schönbornbuchheim. Stuttgart, Berlin, and Leipzig, 1904: 71, repro., as by Botticelli.
1905
Reinach, Salomon. Répertoire de peintures du moyen âge et de la Renaissance (1280-1580). 6 vols. Paris, 1905-1923: 1(1905):365, repro., as Attributed to Botticelli.
1907
Gebhart, Émile. Sandro Botticelli. Paris, 1907: 39, repro., as by Botticelli.
Rusconi, Arturo Jahn. Sandro Botticelli. Bergamo, 1907: 6, 201, repro., as by Botticelli (?).
1908
Crowe, Joseph Archer, and Giovanni Battista Cavalcaselle. A New History of Painting in Italy, from the II to the XVI Century. 3rd edition. 3 vols. Ed. Edward Hutton. London, 1908-1909: 2(1909): 415 n., as by Amico di Sandro.
Höss, Karl. Fürst Johann II von Liechtenstein und die Bildende Kunst. Vienna, 1908: 37.
1909
Berenson, Bernard. The Florentine Painters of the Renaissance, 3rd ed. London, 1909: 101, as by Amico di Sandro.
1911
Kroeber, Hans Timotheus. Die Einzelporträts des Sandro Botticelli. Leipzig, 1911: 9-11, 38, pl. 22, as by Botticelli.
Preyer, David Charles. The Art of Vienna Galleries, Giving a Brief History of the Public and Private Galleries of Vienna, with a Critical Description of the Paintings Contained Therein. Boston, 1911: 209-210, repro., as by Botticelli.
1920
Ward, James. A History of Methods of Ancient and Modern Painting. 3 vols. London, 1920: 3:35, as by Botticelli.
1921
Bode, Wilhelm von. Botticelli. Berlin, 1921: 106, 109, repro., as by Botticelli.
1922
Gebhart, Émile. Sandro Botticelli. 2nd ed. Paris, 1922: 105-106, 242, as by Botticelli.
Escher, Konrad. Die Malerei des 14. bis 16. Jahrhunderts in Mittel- und Unteritalien. Vol. 1. Berlin, 1922: 158, as by Botticelli.
1923
Marle, Raimond van. The Development of the Italian Schools of Painting. 19 vols. The Hague, 1923-1938: 12(1931):64, as by Botticelli.
Schmarsow, August. Sandro Botticelli. Dresden, 1923: 54, pl. 29, as by Botticelli.
1924
Bulletin of the Art Institute of Chicago 18, no. 6 (September 1924): 76, repro.
W. A. P. “Loan Collection of Mr. and Mrs. Frank D. Stout.” Bulletin of the Art Institute of Chicago 18, no. 7 (October 1924): 90.
1925
Bode, Wilhelm von. Botticelli. English edition. Berlin, 1925: 86, repro., as by Botticelli.
1926
Bode, Wilhelm von. Botticelli. Des Meister Werke. Stuttgart, 1926: 44, repro., as by Botticelli.
1932
Berenson, Bernard. Italian Pictures of the Renaissance. Oxford, 1932: 287.
1933
Venturi, Lionello. Italian Paintings in America. 3 vols. New York and Milan, 1933: 2:pl.251, as by Botticelli.
1935
Scharf, Alfred. Filippino Lippi. Vienna, 1935: 38, 112, cat. 65, pl. 135.
1936
Berenson, Bernard. Pitture italiane del rinascimento. Milan, 1936: 246.
1937
Cortissoz, Royal. An Introduction to the Mellon Collection. Boston, 1937: 16-17.
Venturi, Lionello. Botticelli. New York and Vienna, 1937: 12, repro., as by Botticelli.
1938
Mesnil, Jacques. Botticelli. Paris, 1938: 225-226, pl. 16, as by Botticelli.
Neilson, Katharine B. Filippino Lippi, a Critical Study. New York, 1938: 23, as by Amico di Sandro.
1941
Preliminary Catalogue of Paintings and Sculpture. National Gallery of Art, Washington, 1941: 105, no. 20.
Richter, George M. “The New National Gallery in Washington.” The Burlington Magazine 78 (June 1941): 177.
1942
Book of Illustrations. National Gallery of Art, Washington, 1942: 239, repro. 130.
1949
Paintings and Sculpture from the Mellon Collection. National Gallery of Art, Washington, 1949 (reprinted 1953 and 1958): 23, repro.
1951
Einstein, Lewis. Looking at Italian Pictures in the National Gallery of Art. Washington, 1951: 44 n. 1.
Oertel, Robert. “Review. Alfred Scharf, Filippino Lippi.” Kunstchronik 4 (February 1951): 37, as by Botticelli.
1952
Cairns, Huntington, and John Walker, eds., Great Paintings from the National Gallery of Art. New York, 1952: 32, color repro.
1957
Berti, Luciano, and Umberto Baldini. Filippino Lippi. Florence, 1957: 78, cat. 28.
Salvini, Roberto. “Botticelli e Filippino.” In Cesare Brandi, et. al. Saggi su Filippino Lippi. Florence, 1957: 68, pl. 36, as by Botticelli.
1958
Salvini, Roberto. Tutta la pittura del Botticelli, 2 vols. Milan, 1958: 1:51-52, as by Botticelli.
1960
The National Gallery of Art and Its Collections. Foreword by Perry B. Cott and notes by Otto Stelzer. National Gallery of Art, Washington (undated, 1960s): 23, repro. 20.
1962
Lugt, Frits. Le dessin italien dans les collections hollandaises. Exh. cat., Institut Néerlandais, Paris, 1962: 40.
1963
Walker, John. National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C. New York, 1963 (reprinted 1964 in French, German, and Spanish): 300, repro.
Berenson, Bernard. Italian Pictures of the Renaissance: Florentine School, 2 vols. London, 1963: 1:111.
1965
Summary Catalogue of European Paintings and Sculpture. National Gallery of Art, Washington, 1965: 75.
1966
Cairns, Huntington, and John Walker, eds. A Pageant of Painting from the National Gallery of Art. 2 vols. New York, 1966: 1:54, color repro.
1967
Mandel, Gabriel. The Complete Paintings of Botticelli. Milan and New York, 1967: 91, cat. 54, as by Botticelli.
1968
National Gallery of Art. European Paintings and Sculpture, Illustrations. Washington, 1968: 66, repro.
1972
Fredericksen, Burton B., and Federico Zeri. Census of Pre-Nineteenth Century Italian Paintings in North American Public Collections. Cambridge, MA, 1972: 106, 645.
1975
European Paintings: An Illustrated Summary Catalogue. National Gallery of Art, Washington, 1975: 194, repro.
Ragghianti, Carlo L., and Gigetta Dalli Regoli. Firenze 1470-1480. Disegni dal modello. Pollaiolo, Leonardo, Botticelli, Filippino. Pisa, 1975: 109, repro., as by Botticelli or Filippino Lippi.
1978
Lightbown, Ronald. Botticelli: Life and Work. 2 vols. Berkeley, CA, 1978: 2:208, cat. F5.
1979
Shapley, Fern Rusk. Catalogue of the Italian Paintings. 2 vols. Washington, 1979: 1:247-258; 2:pl. 173.
Watson, Ross. The National Gallery of Art, Washington. New York, 1979: 27, pl. 9.
1984
Walker, John. National Gallery of Art, Washington. Rev. ed. New York, 1984: 97, no. 58, color repro.
Scalia, Fiorenza, and Cristina de Benedictis. Il Museo Bardini: A Firenze. Milan, 1984: 121.
1985
European Paintings: An Illustrated Catalogue. National Gallery of Art, Washington, 1985: 228, repro.
1987
Horne, Herbert. H. Alessandro Filipepi commonly called Sandro Botticelli, Painter of Florence. Appendix III: Catalogue of the works of Sandro Botticelli, and of his disciples and imitators, together with notices of those erroneously attributed to him in the public and private collections of Europe and America. Ed. Caterina Caneva. Florence, 1987: 10-11, as School of Botticelli.
1988
Baldini, Umberto. Botticelli. Florence, 1988: 271.
1989
Pons, Nicoletta. Botticelli: catalogo completo. Milan, 1989: 102, cat. 165, as Attributed to Botticelli.
1991
Kopper, Philip. America's National Gallery of Art: A Gift to the Nation. New York, 1991: 67-69, color repro.
Berti, Luciano, and Umberto Baldini. Filippino Lippi, 2nd ed. Florence, 1991: 51, 175.
1992
National Gallery of Art. National Gallery of Art, Washington. New York, 1992: 24, repro.
1994
Wieczorek, Uwe, ed. Fünf Jahrhunderte Italienische Kunst aus dem Sammlungen des Fürsten von Liechtenstein: Sammlungen des Fürsten von Liechtenstein. Exh. cat., Liechtensteinische Staatliche Kunstsammlung, Vaduz, 1994: 12.
1996
Fossi, Gloria. “Virtù terrene e ‘bellezze dell’animo.’ Ritratti nella Firenze del Quattrocento.” In Gloria Fossi, ed. Il Ritratto: gli artisti, i modelli, la memoria. Florence, 1996: 58, fig. 87.
1997
Southgate, M. Therese. The Art of JAMA: One Hundred Covers and Essays from The Journal of the American Medical Association. St. Louis, 1997: 36-37, color repro.
Goldner, George R., and Carmen Bambach, et. al. The Drawings of Filippino Lippi and His Circle. Exh. cat. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 1997: 138.
1998
Del Bravo, Carlo. ”Filippino e lo Stoicismo.” Artibus et historiae 19, no. 37 (1998): 68, fig. 1.
2000
Fahy, Everett. Dipinti, disegni, miniature, stampe: L'Archivio storico fotografico di Stefano Bardini. Florence, 2000: 43, 212, 409, no. 336.
2003
Boskovits, Miklós, David Alan Brown, et al. Italian Paintings of the Fifteenth Century. The Systematic Catalogue of the National Gallery of Art. Washington, 2003: 166-170, color repro., as by Botticelli.
Metzger, Catherine A. “Artist/Conservator Materials: Portrait of a Youth – A Recent Restoration at the National Gallery of Art.” In Early Italian Paintings: Approaches to Conservation. Proceedings of a Symposium Held at Yale University Art Gallery, April 2002. New Haven and London, 2003: 2003: 233-237.
2004
Hand, John Oliver. National Gallery of Art: Master Paintings from the Collection. Washington and New York, 2004: 19, no. 14, color repro.
Zambrano, Patrizia, and Jonathan Katz Nelson. Filippino Lippi. Milan, 2004: 363, cat. R18, as by Botticelli.
2005
Zöllner, Frank. Botticelli. Munich, London, and New York, 2005: 198, cat. 24, as by Botticelli.
2006
Fahy, Everett. "Early Italian paintings in Washington and Philadelphia." The Burlington Magazine 148, no. 1241 (August 2006): 539, as by Botticelli.
2007
Nelson, Jonathan K. “Review. Botticelli by Alessandro Cecchi; Sandro Botticelli by Frank Zöllner.” Renaissance Quarterly 60, no. 3 (2007): 918, as by Botticelli.
2009
Schumacher, Andreas, et al. Botticelli: Likeness, Myth, Devotion. Exh. cat. Städel Museum, Frankfurt am Main, 2009: 196, fig. 102, as Portrait of a Young Man against a Light Background, by Botticelli.
2020
Zambrano, Patrizia. “…Di naturale tanto bene che non pare che gli manchi se non la parola. Filippino Lippi pittore di ritratti.” In Paula Nuttall, Geoffrey Nuttall, Michael W. Kwakkelstein eds. Filippino Lippi: Beauty, Invention and Intelligence. Leiden, 2020: 159-160, fig. 6.3.
2021
Wheelock, Arthur K., Jr., "In Pursuit of Masterpieces: The National Gallery of Art’s Acquisitions from the Prince of Liechtenstein." Artibus et historiae 42, no. 83 (2021): 313, 314, color fig. 1, 317, 320, 321, 325, 326, fig. 16, 327, 328.
Cecchi, Alessandro. “Gli studi su Botticelli di Roberto Salvini.” In Enrica Neri Lusanna, ed. Roberto Salvini, la Storia dell’arte, l’Europa. Florence, 2021: 228, as Attributed to Botticelli (corresponding illustration shows the wrong painting).
2022
Frosinini, Cecilia, and Rachel McGarry, eds. Botticelli and Renaissance Florence: Masterworks from the Uffizi. Exh. cat. Minneapolis Institute of Arts, 2022: 190.
2024
Rath, Markus. "Grundmuster: Ausdrucksfunktionen des monochromen Hintergrundes im Renaissanceporträt" Zeitschrift für Kunstgeschichte 87, no. 1 (2024): 97, 115, n. 56.
Wikidata ID
Q20174444