Paper

Student Artwork Guide

Man with a White Beard

Name Class Date

Jacopo Robusti, Man with a White Beard (1578), Kunsthistorisches Museum. Public domain. See this canvas under a moving light: the drawing, the true colour under the varnish, the bare pigment

The facts

Artist
Jacopo Robusti originaluniqueart.com/en/artists/jacopo-robusti/
Artist’s dates
1518 – 1594
Painted
1578
Original size
595 x 924 cm
Held at
Kunsthistorisches Museum originaluniqueart.com/en/museums/kunsthistorisches-museum-vienna/

In context

Man with a White Beard — Jacopo Robusti

How big is it?

The original measures 595 × 924 cm (height × width), drawn here beside an adult of average height. It is too large to draw to scale on this page.

When was this painted?

  1. 1510
  2. 1520
  3. 1530
  4. 1540
  5. 1550
  6. 1560
  7. 1570
  8. 1580
  9. 1590

Row above: the years. Row below: how old the artist was at the start and at the end of each span — 0 at birth, 76 at death.

Painted when the artist was 60. The artist lived to 76. 10 of the 12 dated works by this artist in our catalogue came earlier.

Shaded: the lifetime of Jacopo Robusti (1518–1594) ▲ this work, 1578 every dated painting, decade by decade

First works: up to 1555 Main working years: 1555–1575 Late works: from 1575

Those three bands split the works this catalogue has a date for into a first quarter, a middle half and a last quarter. They are not the artist’s complete output: a thin stretch may be a gap in the record rather than a quiet spell. The same years with the artist’s life laid along them

Compare with

Pick one work above: name two things it shares with this one, and one thing that's different.

More works to set beside this one: originaluniqueart.com/en/art/similar/jacopo-robusti-man-with-a-white-beard-D3U6J6-en/

Colours

Measured from the image

    Main colour

    Black #121104

    Catalogued palette

    • #121104
    • #040401
    • #AA805B
    • #67492F

    These colours inside the artist’s whole palette Find other paintings by colour

    Palette
    Earthy The dominant colour family in the image.
    Main colour name
    Black
    Intensity
    Monochromatic How saturated and varied the colours are, from a single toned-down hue to many bright ones.
    Contrast
    Serene How much the colours differ in lightness and saturation across the picture.
    Harmony
    Strong Color Unity How well the colours work together, from clashing to fully unified.
    Brightness
    Deep_shadow How light or dark the picture reads overall, from deep shadow to bright highlight.
    Saturation
    Muted How pure and strong the colours are, from near-grey to fully vivid.

    Where in the world is this painting looked at?

    • under 1%
    • 1–3%
    • 3–8%
    • 8–20%
    • 20% and over
    This painting alone has too few recorded visitors to map, so the plate reads every work by Jacopo Robusti over the last twelve months — 2 countries in all. Where these figures come from

    The ten leading countries

    1. 1 China 75.0%
    2. 2 Bulgaria 25.0%

    Find the three darkest countries on the map. Is the museum that keeps this painting in any of them? Write down one reason people far away might look at it.

    The 5 most looked-at works by Jacopo Robusti

    1. 1 Hercules Expelling the Faun from Omphale, 1585 40.0%
    2. 2 The Origin of the Milky Way, 1575 20.0%
    3. 3 Allegorical Figure of Spring, 1555 20.0%
    4. 4 Church Bell -\n\nSaint Zeno of Verona, 1370 20.0%
    5. — Man with a White Beard, 1578 this painting 0.0%

    Together these works take 100.0% of all the attention this artist's paintings received over the last twelve months. The catalogue holds 14 works by this artist, of which 4 were looked at at least once. This painting has not been looked at yet in that time — it closes the list without a rank. The same counts, month by month

    Bars measure attention, not quality. Pick the work at the top and this one: name one thing that might make a painting famous beyond how well it is painted.

    About this artwork

    Man with a White Beard — Jacopo Robusti

    The unknown subject looks directly at the viewer. Dressed in a coat that almost entirely disappears into the darkness of the background, he holds the fur trimming with his left hand to keep the coat closed. Tintoretto uses this trick to distance the subject from the viewer despite the direct eye contact. He gives the man’s skin a tone that corresponds with his dark-red shirt and emphasises the varied structure and quality of his hair and beard. With simple compositional means and striking illumination, Tintoretto gives his aged subject a strong presence, individuality and “spiritual beauty”, a quality that is increasingly found in Tintoretto’s late portraits. Contrary to long-held assumptions, the painting is now ascribed to Tintoretto himself and no longer to his son Domenico. It owes its popularity in Austria not least to the role it played as a persistently recurring motif in Thomas Bernhard’s comedy

    Artist and museum

    Artist

    Jacopo Robusti

    Born in Venice, Italy

    early life and training

    jacopo robusti, also known as tintoretto, was an italian painter identified with the venetian school. he was born in venice in 1518 and his father was a dyer. tintoretto is known to have had at least one sibling, a brother named domenico robusti. he is believed to have originated from brescia, in lombardy, then part of the republic of venice.

    artistic style and influences

    tintoretto's artistic style was characterized by his bold brushwork and inventiveness in composition. he was influenced by the works of michelangelo, but ultimately spent most of his career rejecting the high renaissance style with his own approach.

    notable works

    saint george and the dragon (158 x 100 cm, national gallery, london, oil on canvas), a painting that showcases tintoretto's unique ability to capture the essence of a place.

    mary with the child, venerated by two evangelists (160 x 228 cm, canvas), a work that demonstrates tintoretto's mastery of light and shadow.

    christ carried to the tomb (scottish national gallery, edinburgh, oil on canvas), a painting that exemplifies tintoretto's boldness and inventiveness in composition.

    museums and collections

    tintoretto's works can be found in various museums around the world, including the gallerie dell'accademia (venezia, italy), the national gallery (london, united kingdom), and the scottish national gallery (edinburgh, scotland).

    legacy

    tintoretto remains one of the most prolific italian painters of the venetian school, known for his bold brushwork and inventiveness in composition. his legacy continues to inspire artists and art enthusiasts alike.

    view more works by jacopo robusti on AllPaintingsStore.com

    read more about the venetian school and its notable artists on wikipedia

    discover the world of art with AllPaintingsStore.com and explore the works of jacopo robusti and other renowned artists.

    Museum

    Kunsthistorisches Museum

    On show in Vienna, Austria

    A Palace of Echoes: Unveiling Vienna’s Artistic Soul

    Stepping through the grand entrance of the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna is akin to stepping back into the heart of European artistic ambition. More than simply a repository for masterpieces, this colossal building—a testament to Gottfried Semper's visionary design—is an architectural embodiment of Roman grandeur, deliberately mirroring the Forum Romano and establishing a profound connection with classical ideals. Completed in 1891, it wasn’t conceived as a static display case; rather, Semper envisioned a space designed to inspire awe, elevate understanding of Western artistic evolution, and, crucially, breathe with the very spirit of its collection. The sheer scale of the building—a monumental statement against the Viennese skyline—immediately conveys the ambition of the Habsburg Empire and the profound importance placed on preserving and celebrating art.

    The museum’s core, undoubtedly, lies within the Picture Gallery, a breathtaking expanse where titans of art history command attention. This isn't merely a collection; it’s a carefully orchestrated dialogue across centuries. Notice, for instance, Johannes Vermeer’s

    The Art of Painting

    , an obsessive exploration rendered with breathtaking precision. The painting itself is a window into his process, revealing the painstaking detail he applied to capturing reality—from the subtle shimmer of light on fabric to the almost palpable sense of quiet contemplation emanating from the artist's figure. Alongside this captivating work hangs Raphael’s

    Madonna of the Meadow

    , radiating serenity and embodying the idealized beauty of motherhood and divine grace. Rembrandt’s self-portraits, displayed with poignant intimacy, offer a profoundly personal glimpse into the artist's psyche—a vulnerable yet brilliant exploration of human experience that transcends time.

    A Journey Through Time and Antiquity

    Beyond the familiar masterpieces of the Renaissance and Baroque, the Kunsthistorisches Museum extends far beyond its celebrated paintings to offer a tangible connection to the dawn of civilization. The museum’s Egyptian Collection is particularly remarkable, rivaling those found in Cairo itself; it invites wanderers to move amongst sarcophagi adorned with intricate hieroglyphs and gaze upon statues of pharaohs frozen in time. This journey through antiquity is complemented by the Greek and Roman Antiquities section, which showcases sculptures and artifacts that illuminate the very foundations of Western culture. For the collector of history, the Imperial Armoury offers a fascinating glimpse into military craftsmanship, housing an impressive display of weaponry and armor that reflects the power and prestige of the Habsburg dynasty.

    The museum’s commitment to preserving secular treasures is equally profound, including a remarkable collection of musical instruments and court uniforms, each piece whispering tales of opulent balls and imperial ceremonies. This breadth of collection ensures that every visitor, whether an academic or a casual admirer, finds a resonance with the past. The curators have painstakingly reconstructed original lighting conditions in many galleries, allowing visitors to appreciate the nuances of color and texture as intended by the masters, fostering an almost palpable connection to the creative process.

    The Architectural Legacy of the Ringstraße

    Gottfried Semper's design for the Ringstraße—a monumental urban plan intended to elevate Vienna as a symbol of imperial splendor—is inextricably linked to the museum. Constructed alongside the Natural History Museum, these two grand buildings stand as twin pillars of Habsburg power, embodying a belief in harmonizing classical ideals with modern engineering innovation. The integration with the Ringstraße was a strategic move to showcase Vienna as a modern, civilized capital, worthy of its imperial status. To ascend to the dome’s observation deck is to gain a unique perspective on the city's rich history; it is a deliberate architectural gesture designed to inspire awe and solidify Vienna’s position as Europe’s foremost center of artistic innovation.

    In recent years, the museum has continued to champion groundbreaking explorations into artistic traditions from around the world. Notable exhibitions such as

    “Visionaries & Revolutionaries: Artists Who Transformed the Art World”

    have delved into the lives of pivotal figures who reshaped landscapes from Impressionism to Surrealism. By presenting art in a dynamic and engaging way, moving beyond static displays to offer fresh perspectives on the past, the Kunsthistorisches Museum ensures that its halls remain not just a monument to what has been, but a living, breathing dialogue with what is yet to come.

    Where to read more

    • The artist Jacopo Robusti originaluniqueart.com/en/artists/jacopo-robusti/
    • The museum Kunsthistorisches Museum originaluniqueart.com/en/museums/kunsthistorisches-museum-vienna/
    • Similar works More works to compare originaluniqueart.com/en/art/similar/jacopo-robusti-man-with-a-white-beard-D3U6J6-en/

    Find this online

    QR code linking to the download page for Man with a White Beard

    originaluniqueart.com/en/art/download/jacopo-robusti-man-with-a-white-beard-D3U6J6-en/

    Cite this artwork

    MLA
    Robusti, Jacopo. Man with a White Beard. 1578, Kunsthistorisches Museum. https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/jacopo-robusti-man-with-a-white-beard-D3U6J6-en/
    APA
    Robusti, Jacopo (1578). Man with a White Beard [Painting]. Kunsthistorisches Museum. https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/jacopo-robusti-man-with-a-white-beard-D3U6J6-en/
    Chicago
    Jacopo Robusti. Man with a White Beard. 1578. Kunsthistorisches Museum. https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/jacopo-robusti-man-with-a-white-beard-D3U6J6-en/
    Harvard
    Robusti, Jacopo (1578) Man with a White Beard. Kunsthistorisches Museum. Available at: https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/jacopo-robusti-man-with-a-white-beard-D3U6J6-en/

    Look closely

    Man with a White Beard — Jacopo Robusti

    Look closely

    Answer in your own words. There are no wrong answers here — only answers you can explain.

    1. What catches your eye first, and why?
    2. Which colours or shapes create the mood — and what is that mood?
    3. Look back at Susanna and the Elders (1556), earlier in this guide. Name two things it shares with this work, and one that is different.
    4. Jacopo Robusti was about 60 when this was made. What in it looks like the work of an artist at that stage?
    5. What might the artist have wanted you to feel?

    Your response

    Write a short paragraph about this artwork. Use the facts from the earlier parts of this guide, and your answers above.

    Questions & Answers

    Why is the copyright status of "Man with a White Beard" what it is?

    "Man with a White Beard" by Jacopo Robusti is in the public domain - its copyright has expired. Copyright terms are measured from the artist's death, and Jacopo Robusti died in 1594.

    Is a download available for "Man with a White Beard"?

    A download is available for "Man with a White Beard": the artwork's Download page offers a high-resolution digital image download.

    Is a high-resolution download of "Man with a White Beard" available?

    A digital image of "Man with a White Beard" by Jacopo Robusti can be purchased on its Digital Image page: a high-resolution digital image download.