0 The Renaissance Portrait

 Early December I got to see the Met's new Renaissance Portrait from Donatello to Bellini show, up until March 18th. Over 160 works are represented in media ranging from bronze medals, marble busts, illuminated manuscripts, drawings and tempera on wood.

 Bear was thrilled to see a distant relative hanging...

 Near a Da Vinci portrait drawing...

 And not far from a Bellini portrait lent from the museum in Padua...

 This Botticelli of 'Simonetta Vespucci' is visiting from Berlin...

 One of the only two existant tempera on wood  paintings (1444) by Pisanello of Leonello d'Este is lent by the Accademia of Bergamo...

 Fra Filippo Lippi's man and woman at a casement window (1440) was possibly commissioned for the occasion of a betrothal...

 Clearly there are many rare and beautiful portraits in this exquisite exhibition. Here 'Selvaggio Sassetti', a banker's daughter painted by Ghirlandaio (ca. 1487-88).

 Sculpture busts mirror the paintings...

 Did the show's curator have a hand in choosing these look-alike busts?

The many dated bronze portrait metals assist in dating and identifying all the portraits of the time - this one by Pisanello  (1441-42).

 Miniature portraits for travel...

  Red abounds. Was it because scarlet fabric was rare and reserved only for rulers and aristocrats?

 Do wear red when you visit the Met Renaissance Portrait show.

Don't miss it!