It is possible that the painting was commemorative in purpose, and that the child was a narrative invention intended to emphasize the man's beneficence. Although the man's fur-lined robe and cappuccio and the boy's elegant doublet and cap indicate a noble heritage, and despite the traditional assumption that the subjects are grandfather and grandson, their identities are unknown. Behind them at right is a window through which can be seen a generalized landscape, its uneven terrain and winding roads typical of Ghirlandaio's backgrounds. They sit in an interior, illuminated against a darkened wall. The picture portrays an older man in a red robe, embracing a young child who is also wearing red. Its realism has been described as unique among the portraits of the Quattrocento. One of Ghirlandaio's best-known works, it is considered notable for its emotional poignancy. 1490 tempera painting by the Italian Renaissance artist Domenico Ghirlandaio. An Old Man and his Grandson ( Italian: Ritratto di vecchio con nipote) is a ca.
