LOTTO, Lorenzo (b. ca. 1480, Venezia, d. 1556, Loreto) Man with a Golden Paw (detail) c. 1527 Oil on canvas, 96 x 70 cm (full painting) Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna the stretched out left hand holding the golden paw presents us with a problem. It is difficult not to notice a latent aggression in the spread claw, which appears to be leaping from the man's grasp. Placed as it is, a little right of centre, this detail attracts more attention than its small size would initially seem to warrant, an effect underlined by the gleaming brightness of the wrought gold against the black sheen of the
LOTTO, Lorenzo (b. ca. 1480, Venezia, d. 1556, Loreto) Man with a Golden Paw (detail) c. 1527 Oil on canvas, 96 x 70 cm (full painting) Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna the stretched out left hand holding the golden paw presents us with a problem. It is difficult not to notice a latent aggression in the spread claw, which appears to be leaping from the man's grasp. Placed as it is, a little right of centre, this detail attracts more attention than its small size would initially seem to warrant, an effect underlined by the gleaming brightness of the wrought gold against the black sheen of the man's coat. There can be little doubt that the claw is central to the meaning of the painting. But how should it be understood? Is it intended as an attribute referring to the sitter's profession or social role? If so, then the sitter may be a sculptor or goldsmith, and the paw possibly an allusion to his name. --- Keywords: -------------- Author: LOTTO, Lorenzo Title: Man with a Golden Paw (detail) Time-line: 1501-1550 School: Italian Form: painting Type: portrait
Size: 1716px × 2256px
Photo credit: © Carlo Bollo / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: art, artwork, historical, history, paint, painter, painting, paintings
