Antonello de Messina
Antonello da Messina was one of the first of the Italian artists to learn from Netherlandish art. This influence is evident in his 'Portrait of a Man', which radiates with vivid intensity. Antonello's 'Portrait of a Man' is thought to be completed during the latter half of the 15th century. Due to the direct gaze of the piece, some speculate that the piece is in fact a self portrait. Recent X-ray photographs show, however, that the eyes in the painting were originally turned the other way, which may rebuke this theory. Regardless of who is the subject of the painting, 'Portrait of a Man' reveals true mastery of the form.
