A Man and his Wife
- Artist: Italian
- Date: mid-1540s
- Medium: oil, originally on wood, transferred to canvas
- Museum: The National Gallery
- Collection record: The National Gallery website
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About this artwork
This is "A Man and his Wife". Painted in the Italian north, probably in the mid-1540s. The costumes have been dated to this time period. It's interesting to note that a man resting his hand on his wife's shoulder like this was quite rare at the time.
The woman stands before a fruiting lemon tree, which may symbolise her fertility. She's holding a pink carnation, associated with betrothals and divine love. The way the couple are angled towards each other, but not looking directly at one another or at us, gives them a slightly wooden appearance.
The picture is quite damaged, making it hard to identify the artist for certain. It did come from a collection in Ferrara, though. Some art historians think it might have been painted by a Flemish rather than an Italian artist, but the provincial costumes suggest a North Italian origin.
It's worth noting that this painting has undergone some changes over time. The unusual dimensions and cropping of the woman's hand may indicate that it was originally longer.
See it in person
A Man and his Wife hangs in The National Gallery on Trafalgar Square, London — free to enter. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
