Portrait of a Man

Ferrarese 15th Century

National Gallery of Art

The relief depicts a man's profile carved onto a rectangular plaque. The man has shoulder-length wavy hair and wears a tall hat with a wide brim. He also wears a garment with a wrinkled collar. The material of the sculpture appears to be aged bronze or copper, characterized by a dark, reddish-brown surface with signs of patina. There is a circular hole at the top center of the plaque, indicating it may have been intended for hanging. The sculpture presents a formal and stylized portrayal of the subject's facial features, typical of reliefs created for decorative or commemorative purposes.