Portrait of a Gentleman in Black (Girolamo de Vincenti?)

The smartly dressed young man in this portrait is enveloped by his elaborate black shirt, or doublet. His hands are only partially visible under white cuffs. They hold a glove and a sword, suggesting his elegance and his power. Only his face is illuminated. His black cap even casts a tiny shadow over his forehead, calling further attention to his well-lit brown eyes.

Girolamo da Carpi was an artist in the court of the ruling Este family in Ferrara. As a court painter, he naturally excelled at portraiture. His portraits were also prized outside Ferrara, and he painted prominent Florentines like Cardinal Ippolito de’ Medici (London, National Gallery). He also painted religious altarpieces in Bologna and even worked as an architect at the Vatican in 1550.