Portrait of a Friend of Titian (Marco Mantova Benavides)
ca. 1550
Not on view
The sitter for this portrait was recently identified as Marco Mantova Benavides (1489-1582), a law professor at the University of Padua. A humanist scholar, he was also a generous patron and friend of artists. Here he holds a letter, folded several times for sending in typical sixteenth-century fashion. It is addressed by him to Titian, his "singolare amico" (“singular friend”). The inscription of Titian’s name on the letter also serves as the artist’s signature on the painting.
- Artist
- Tiziano Vecellio (Titian) (circa 1488-1576)
- Title
- Portrait of a Friend of Titian (Marco Mantova Benavides)
- Date
- ca. 1550
- Object Type
- Paintings
- Medium
- Oil on canvas
- Dimensions
- 35 1/2 x 28 1/2 in. (90.2 x 72.4 cm)
- Credit Line
- Gift of the Samuel H. Kress Foundation
- Accession Number
- 61.44.17