Lorenzo Lotto (c. 1480 – 1556/57)
was an Italian painter, draughtsman and illustrator, traditionally placed in the Venetian school, although much of his career was spent in other North Italian cities. He painted mainly altarpieces, religious subjects and portraits.
When he was about 70, one of his works had an unsuccessful auction in Ancona. As recorded in his personal account book, this deeply disillusioned him. Towards the end of his life, he had difficult earning a living. In 1552 he joined the Holy Sanctuary at Loreto, becoming a lay brother. During that time he decorated the basilica of Santa Maria. He died in 1556 and was buried, at his request, in a Dominican habit.
After decades of provincial commissions his work fell into obscurity for several centuries. Though he remains in the shadow of his better-known rivals, Lotto has emerged as a favorite among art historians and curators for his empathetic religious works and striking portraits.
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| An exhibition dedicated to Lorenzo Lotto took place in Rome at the Scuderie del Quirinale in 2011. The technology, OPTAGON, in the lighting makes the artwork appear at the height of their true colors and with a sense of tridimensionality. |
| “Portrait of an Elderly Gentleman with Gloves,” The dignified face rivals the works of Rembrandt. |
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A
1527 portrait of a Venetian antiquities collector, Andrea Odoni, in
the U.K.’s Royal Collection.
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