A Young Man Praying

Image credit: The National Gallery, London

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Notes

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We do not know this man’s identity, although he was once thought to be the sixteenth-century theologian Martin Luther, who was a leading figure of the Protestant Reformation. This was once the left wing of a folding diptych or triptych (a painting of two or three parts respectively). There are remains of red paint on the reverse, which may have shown an object against a red background, perhaps a stone figure of a biblical character in a red marble niche.

The portrait has much in common with Bruges paintings of the 1520s. One artist in particular, known as the Master of the Holy Blood, tended to distort his faces in a similar way to that seen here – the large nose is almost in profile, while the face is in three-quarter view. It seems likely this painting is from his workshop.

The National Gallery, London

London

Title

A Young Man Praying

Date

probably 1525-30

Medium

Oil on oak

Measurements

H 24.1 x W 18.4 cm

Accession number

NG1063

Acquisition method

Bought, 1879

Work type

Painting

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The National Gallery, London

Trafalgar Square, London, Greater London WC2N 5DN England

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