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BASSANO, Francesco (ca.1470-1541) or Leandro (1557-1622)

[[underlined]] "PORTRAIT OF A PRIEST" [[/underlined]]

Oil on canvas: 22-3/4" x 17-1/2"

A shoulder length portrait of a priest, set on a slight diagonal and gazing forward at the spectator. He has moustache, a beard, a ruddy complexion, and a lined forehead. He is wearing a black cassock, with a soft white collar edged in tiny white tassels, and a black biretta, set on the back of his head. The background is black.

[[underlined]] Exhibited: [[/underlined]] "Les Bassano", Galerie Sambon, Paris, June 15-30, 1929.

[[underlined]] Bibliogrpahy: [[/underlined]] Catalogue:"Les Bassano", Galerie Sambon, Paris June 15-30, 1929, no.12. reproduced pl.2.

[[underlined]] Notes: [[/underlined]] We are told by former owner that Madame Duthil, who is attached to the Louvre and is writing a book on the Bassan entitled "Les Bassan dans les grandes collections du 17eme siècle" agree with Prof. Fiecco that this portrait is a typical work by Bassano. She thinks that it is by Francesco Bassano, even though Leandro is usually considered the portraitiste. She bases her opinion on the brushstrokes used on the face of the priest in greater relief than those which Leandro used.

When Madam Duthil returned from a visit to Bassano she said she showed a photograph of this painting to the Conservator of the Museum of Bassano and he agrees that the portrait is by Francesco. It is not possible to obtain a written opinion from Madame Duthil in view of her official capacity.

We have been assured that Prof. Fiecco knows the painting and agrees, we are told, with the attribution to Francesco.

According to Prof. W. Suida, this portrait is by Leandro Lassano and was painted ca. 1610-20.