Lorenzo Lotto

Renaissance painter Lorenzo Lotto (c. 1480-1556/57) was one of the most individualistic of the great Italian painters, known for psychological depth in portraits and bold use of color. Born in Venice, he was influenced by Giovanni Bellini and Giorgione but developed his own distinctive manner. His portraits reveal the thoughts and emotions of subjects with penetrating insight. Art historian Bernard Berenson rediscovered him at the end of the 19th century after centuries of relative obscurity.

Lotto traveled widely: Treviso (1503-1506), the Marches, Rome, and most productively Bergamo (1513-1525), where wealthy merchants and aristocrats gave him many commissions. His altarpieces in San Bernardino and Santo Spirito show inventiveness, competence in light and shade, and preference for opulent colors. Returning to Venice, he was overshadowed by Titian's dominance. His nervous, irritable temperament prevented lasting relationships, and he moved frequently. In old age, destitute and partially blind, he painted bed numbers at a hospital and entered the Santa Casa at Loreto as a lay brother in 1554. Works hang at the Gallerie dell'Accademia, National Gallery in London, and the Museo del Prado.