Bearded Man with a Falcon
- Artist: Attributed toLazzaro Bastiani (Artists)circa(Life dates)
- Date: (circa) 1500
- Medium: oil on canvas
- Museum: The Courtauld Gallery
- Collection record: The Courtauld Gallery website
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About this artwork
This is the Bearded Man with a Falcon, attributed to Lazzaro Bastiani and dated around 1500. The oil on canvas brings the sitter’s presence to life with a striking contrast of colors. He wears a luxurious black doublet that gleams under the light, and his cuffs are finely embroidered, a subtle hint at the wealth and status of the figure. The hat, ornate and full, rounds off the ensemble, making him appear as a man of high social rank. Resting on his arm, the hooded falcon is not just a pet—it signals nobility; hunting birds were prized symbols of power in Renaissance Italy. The background is a deep turquoise that offers a calm, almost mystical backdrop, while the bare tree trunks suggest a landscape stripped of detail to focus attention on the subject. The oak leaves in the corner—referred to as rovere—are a nod to the prominent della Rovere family, hinting that this portrait may belong to a member of that line. The overall composition balances the sitter’s dignity with the subtle symbolism that makes this work a fascinating snapshot of early 16th‑century Italian portraiture.
See it in person
Bearded Man with a Falcon hangs in The Courtauld Gallery at Somerset House, London. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
