Private collection, acquired in June 2005.

A largely self-taught artist who had little exposure to works by the great masters or prevailing trends of the age, Fra Galgario often painted in a spontaneous manner with acute attention to the realism of his subject, characteristics that are on full display in the present painting. This portrait of an unidentified man demonstrates the artist's sensitivity to the sitter's likeness but especially to his personality, with his direct gaze and somewhat curious expression revealing perhaps a softness and vulnerability of character. Such honest depictions were uncommon in an age in which patrons wished to portray themselves as respected and powerful individuals, commissioning paintings that testified to their elevated position in society. Here, whilst the man's elegant clothes reflect he is clearly of some standing, the close psychological study and sparse background make this an intimate and beguiling portrait, showing Galgario's unique style, unhindered by adherence to any particular school or tradition.