Portrait of a Man from the Lespinette Family

The Antwerp artist Hans Memling portrayed this man in great detail. His dark curls, fur-lined doublet and scar on his nose give him a striking appearance. Although we do not know his identity, he must be a member of the Lespinette family, from France, as their coat of arms adorns the back of the panel.

Memling was one of the most important Flemish painters of the 15th century. He was the first northerner to add landscapes to portraits, which created great depth in the painting.