Portrait of a Man Playing a Lute

The man’s costume, with its prominent white lace collar and cuffs, is typical of Bolognese gentlemen in the period. Leaning informally against a table, he deftly strums his lute—possibly to the tune of the folded sheet of music beside him—while gazing at the viewer. The sheet is only partially decipherable and its text, which could contain clues to the sitter’s identity, has thus far eluded identification. The portrait, which bears a date in Roman numerals at upper right, was executed at the height of Passarotti’s career.