Figure 1.--This unnamed youth was painted by Lorenzo di Credi. The painting is variously dated at 1490. He looks striking modern. His long hair looks like the hair commonly worn by American and European boys in the 1970s. Note the entirely secular content of the portrait.

Lorenzo di Credi was a Florantine painter of the Florentine school. A gifted, but unspectacular Renaissance style. He painted many nativity scenes or other scenes with the Madonna and Child as well as other religious works. More interesting were his deeply personal portraits, including some children showing hair styles and fashions. A long-haired youth painted in 1490 could have come out of any American junior high school in the 1970s. His early work are considered to be somewhat similar to Leonardo's youthful style. He reportedly came to regret doing these secular portraits for which he was undoubtedly well paid. The artist in his later years attempted to destroy all of his secular paintings which are the ones of greatest interest to HBC.

Parents

Lorenzo was the son of a goldsmith.

Childhood

No information available. Presumably he grew up in Florence.

Education

Lorenzo first trained as a goldsmith following his father's trade as was customary at the time. He later studied along with Leonardo de Vinchi in Andrea del Verrocchio's workshop. He appears to have remained there until Verrocchio's death in 1488. He reportedly managed the painting side of Verrocchio's varied business and eventually inherited the studio. He is believed to have worked with Leonardo in some important works in Verrocchio's workshop such as the "Baptism of Christ".

Style

His early work are considered to be somewhat similar to Leonardo's youthful style. Some say he slavishly copied Lonardo's work. He was clearly a fine craftsman and draftsman. Art critics generally believe that his style was lacking in individuality. This was especially true of his reliogious work which is remarkably un emotional despite the cradtsmanship. Some of his portraits, however, are quite striking and thoughtfull. One critique writes, "His early work is in an extremely prosaic version of Leonardo's youthful style." Of course compared to Leonardo, few painters will come out in favorable terms. DiCredi in his later works appears to have absorbed some of the ideas of the High Renaissance.

Body of Work

Lorenzo di Credi was a Florantine painter of the Florentine school. A gifted, but unspectacular Renaissance style. He is best known for his nativity scenes or other scenes with the Madonna and Child as well as other religious works. More interesting were his deeply personal portraits, including some children showing hair styles and fashions. He had several pupils and appears to have have developed a profitable clientele. He produced a substantial number of devotional paintings for his wealthy patrons as well as some pofrtraits. He succeeded in a reasonably successful career with his solid, although unspectacular skills. One report suggests that influenced by the religious teachings of Savonarola in 1497 he destroyed all his paintings with secular subjects. Fortunately many of these had been sold to clients and thus could not be destroyed.

Figure 2.--This silverpoint drawing shows a slightkly older youth painted about 1500. Note the similar hair style and cap.

DiCredi also did silverpoint drawings. These drawings were common from the late-14th to the early-17th centuries. They were made with a sharp, silver instrument on specially coated paper so that the metal would leave a mark.

Clothing and Hair Styles

A long-haired youth painted in 1490 could have come out of any American school in the 1970s (figure 1). Brim-less caps and tunics without collars appear tomhave been popular. DiCredi reportedly came to regret doing these secular portraits for which he was undoubtedly well paid. The artist in his later years attempted to destroy all of his secular paintings which are the ones of greatest interest to HBC.

Created: December 19, 2001
Last updated: December 19, 2001