DOMENICO GIRLANDIO (1449 1494). Portrait of an old man with his grandson 1488. Tempera on wood. 62×46.
Paintings

Portrait of an old man with his grandson by DOMENICO GIRLANDIO

In the “Portrait of an old man with his grandson”, whose identity remained unknown, Domenico Ghirlandaio, an early Renaissance painter, a representative of the Florentine school, strove for a realistic and truthful depiction of his models. A touching image of a little boy with golden curls coming out from under a red cap, clinging to his grandfather in the hope of finding either protection or an answer to some question that torments him.

DOMENICO GIRLANDIO (1449 1494). Portrait of an old man with his grandson 1488. Tempera on wood. 62×46.
DOMENICO GIRLANDIO (1449 1494). Portrait of an old man with his grandson 1488. Tempera on wood. 62×46.

The artist did not flatter the old grandfather. He depicted his ugly face without embellishment, but the look turned to the child, full of love and tenderness, gives spirituality to his appearance. In the open window one can see the “ideal landscape” characteristic of Renaissance painting: a valley with a ribbon of a river, hills and rocks rising in the distance. The relationship of the characters is as beautiful and harmonious as nature is beautiful and peaceful. “Portrait of an old man with his grandson” entered the Louvre in 1886.