High Italian Renaissance
Portrait of a Youth
Agnolo or Donnino di Domenico del Mazziere
1495/1500
oil on panel transferred to canvas
Samuel H. Kress Collection
National Gallery of Art
Agnolo or Donnino di Domenico del Mazziere
1495/1500
oil on panel transferred to canvas
Samuel H. Kress Collection
National Gallery of Art
Portrait of a Youth shares several characteristic similarities to the Mona Lisa by Leonardo Da Vinci. The identity of the figures in Portrait of a Youth and Mona Lisa are unknown, making their portraits of significant interest to scholars. The similar pose and composition shows a trend in High Italian Renaissance portrait paintings. The detailed landscape behind the figures in their respective portraits are examples of the High Renaissance ambition to develop a greater sense of space within a two-dimensional painting by enhancing the already developed means of atmospheric perspective. The High Renaissance artists achieved this amplification through use of sfumato in the backgrounds- particularly in the sky, mountains, and horizon line- as well as around Mona Lisa 's face, which creates a haze that creates depth within the image. Another important technique that was established was the use of chiaroscuro to create light and dark contrast when framing the human body. This aided in created a more realistic shape. Both figures also are positioned in a particular pose meant to create a pyramidal composition rather than the triangle favored by Early Renaissance artists. This is achieved by connecting the head, elbow points, and the folded hands to form the shape. Every aspect of the High Italian Renaissance was due to a desire to improve upon and heighten the artistic methods of the Early Renaissance.