Sebastiano del Piombo

Sebastiano del Piombo, The Violinist, sometimes claimed to be a self-portrait, 1518

Years of life:	1485 – 1547
Artist's Teachers:	Giovanni Bellini, Giorgione (?)
Art Movement:	High Renaissance, Mannerism (Late Renaissance)
Painting School:	Venetian School

Genre:	Portrait , Religious
Country:	Italy
Century:	XVI

Originally from Venice, a Titian’s contemporary, he settled in Rome when Michelangelo and Raphael were there. In 1531 obtained the sinecure of the keeper of the papal seal (made from lead, or “piombo,” hence his nickname).

He created a number of beautiful portraits. Otherwise, he flirted with failure. He tried to make his muscular, athletic-looking heroes look poetic, and his compositions, colors, and figures became overblown as he strove unsuccessfully to keep up with his friend Michelangelo. Note the fierce-looking, muscular people, with good strong hands; dramatic gestures, and plenty of foreshortening.

Sebastiano del Piombo’s major works are The Daughter of Herodias, 1510 (London: National Gallery); Fall of Icarus, c. 1511 (Rome: Villa Farnese); Portrait of a Woman, 1512 (Florence: Galleria degli Uffizi); Flagellation, 1516–21 (Rome: S. Pietro in Montorio); Raising of Lazarus, c. 1517–19 (London: National Gallery).

References:

Robert Cumming. Art: complete encyclopedia. – 512 p. – Moscow: Astrel, 2005.

Artworks:

Portrait of a Man in Armor

between 1510 and 1515

Portrait of a Man in Armor • between 1510 and 1515
Vittoria Colonna

Vittoria Colonna
Pietà

between 1516 and 1517

Pietà • between 1516 and 1517
St Louis of Toulouse and St Sinobaldus

1509

St Louis of Toulouse and St Sinobaldus • 1509
St Bartholomew and St Sebastian

1509

St Bartholomew and St Sebastian • 1509
Portrait of Ferry Carondelet with his Secretaries

between 1510 and 1512

Portrait of Ferry Carondelet with his Secretaries • between 1510 and 1512
Giulio di Giuliano de' Medici, Pope Clement VII (1523-1534)

1531

Giulio di Giuliano de' Medici, Pope Clement VII (1523-1534) • 1531
Vittoria Colonna

from 1520 until 1525

Vittoria Colonna • from 1520 until 1525
The Daughter of Herodias - either shows Salome or Judith

1510

The Daughter of Herodias - either shows Salome or Judith • 1510
Portrait of a Woman

1512

Portrait of a Woman • 1512
Pope Clement VII

1526

Pope Clement VII • 1526
The Madonna with the veil

1525

The Madonna with the veil • 1525
Anton Francesco degli Abizzi

1525

Anton Francesco degli Abizzi • 1525
Portrait of a young Roman woman (Dorothea)

1512

Portrait of a young Roman woman (Dorothea) • 1512
Portrait of Cardinal Reginald Pole

1540

Portrait of Cardinal Reginald Pole • 1540
Holy Family

1530

Holy Family • 1530
Holy Family with Saints and Donors

1507

Holy Family with Saints and Donors • 1507
Flagellation of Christ

1524-1525

Flagellation of Christ • 1524-1525
The Holy Family with Saint Catherine, Saint Sebastian and a donor.

1507

The Holy Family with Saint Catherine, Saint Sebastian and a donor. • 1507
Portrait of Pope Clement VII by Sebastiano del Piombo

1547

Portrait of Pope Clement VII by Sebastiano del Piombo • 1547
Portrait of a Man, Said to be Christopher Columbus (born about 1446, died 1506)

1519

Portrait of a Man, Said to be Christopher Columbus (born about 1446, died 1506) • 1519
Christ Carrying the Cross

Christ Carrying the Cross
Christ descends into Limbo

1516

Christ descends into Limbo • 1516
Head of a Woman

early 1530s

Head of a Woman • early 1530s
The Raising of Lazarus

1517–1519

The Raising of Lazarus • 1517–1519
Death of Adonis

1512

Death of Adonis • 1512
Sebastiano del Piombo, The Violinist, sometimes claimed to be a self-portrait

1518

Sebastiano del Piombo, The Violinist, sometimes claimed to be a self-portrait • 1518