BERNARDO STROZZI (1581–1644)

Oil on canvas. Expert Analysis: Dr. Alessandro Delpriori, University of Florence. Bernardo Strozzi was a versatile and prolific artist who worked both on canvas and as a fresco artist. He painted historical themes, allegories, genre scenes, as well as portraits, but his most common themes are religious compositions. Strozzi is considered one of the most important representatives of the 17th century Venice painting school and a founder of the Venetian Baroque style. Strozzi’s early work was characterised by Mannerist features, but over time his own signature style headed more and more towards naturalism and was influenced by Carravaggio and his followers. He achieved a sure handling of space and precisely defined forms using the alternation of light and shadow. Over time, he expanded his palette with warm tones, and was more expressive. His oil studies, as with this portrait of a bearded man, are full of light, expressiveness, and bright and vivid colours that fascinate us to this day.