Portrait of a Man

The true identity of the subject in this portrait is unknown, although it was believed for centuries to be Christian II of Denmark. However, some details suggest that it is a nobleman, such as his opulent clothing and the coat of arms (now worn away) that was on the back of the panel. Next to it is a reference to the Gospel of Saint Matthew: “A FRUCTIBUS EORUM COGNOSCETIS EOS,” meaning, “By their fruit you will recognize them.” However, neither of these clues, nor the face itself, have enabled the subject to be identified. The artist's identity is not clear either, although the quality of some of the painting’s details suggest that it may have been painted by Bernard van Orley.