Portrait of a gentleman, within a painted tondo
bears inscription 'CORRVAT EXANIMIS, VUMBRA STVPEFACTVS INANI: PREMIA FORS FORTI DIGNA LABORE FERAT.'
oil on canvas laid down on panel
44.6 x 47.2cm (17 9/16 x 18 9/16in).

Footnotes

The original inscription has been altered. It previously read 'EXITIUM SUBEAT, VANAS QUISQUIS TIM (ET UM) BRAS FORTUNAET FORTIBUS AEQUA ERAT'.

This portrait belongs to a very small and rare group painted in England in the mid-16th century. There are interesting compositional similarities between the present portrait and the woodcut of Sir Thomas Wyatt the Elder by Holbein (fig. 1) and the paintings of the younger Thomas Wyatt, who was depicted in the same way à l'antique in the highly unusual tondo format, which may be after Holbein. Although there are over eighty preparatory portrait drawings by Holbein in the Royal Collection, this portrait does not appear to correspond to any directly, although there is some degree of likeness between the present sitter and some of Holbein's. It is conceivable that this work may reflect a lost picture by Holbein. The absence of costume makes it difficult to date accurately but circa 1545-50 has been suggested as likely.

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- Old Master Paintings

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Circle of Hans Holbein the Younger(Augsburg circa 1497-1543 London)Portrait of a gentleman, within a painted tondo

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