Portrait of a bearded man

Although the identity of the sitter has been lost, his genteel beard, fashionable velvet hat, and fine black coat with slashed sleeves indicate he was a member of the French court. After the Clouet family, Corneille de Lyon was the leading portraitist in mid-16th century France, and this painting is a typical example of his style. The non-descript, green background places all of the emphasis on the sitter himself, who looks out to meet the viewer's gaze.