Lorenzo Lotto

Lorenzo Lotto (c. 1480–1556) was a native Venetian and follower of Giovanni Bellini and Giorgione. best known for intense portraits that seem to catch their sitters off-guard, capturing the painter’s own restless energy.

He left Venice when he was quite young; some say he was hounded out of town by Titian and his friend of the poison pen, Aretino. But he probably left of his own devices. seeing how much competition there was in the city during the High Renaissance. He went on to make his reputation in Treviso, the Marche and Rome, although towards the end of his life he fell out of favour, and became a Dominican lay brother in Loreto.

In Venice, one of his best known works, The Young Man in his Studio, is in the Accademia. Also see the Madonna and four Saints in San Giacomo dall’Orio, and the Alms of Saint Anthony in SS. Giovanni e Paolo.