Portrait of a Musician 1487

Leonardo da Vinci made this oil and tempera on panel portrait of a musician in Milan, though the date is unknown. The image is of a young man holding a musical score, which suggests the growing importance of music as a cultural pursuit in the Italian Renaissance. It is a product of the patronage system, in which wealthy individuals or institutions commissioned art. The figure’s clothing – the red cap, dark tunic, and ochre stole – may signal his social standing or role within a musical institution, and the presence of the musical score points to the development of musical notation and composition during this period. As art historians, we examine archival records and cultural histories to understand the relationship between artistic production and social context, and to uncover the public role of art and the social conditions that shape artistic production. Through this kind of research, we recognize the way in which images like this create meaning through cultural references and historical associations.