Student essay written in en (native language: French, CEFR level: B2, field of study: Arts)

The portrait of Alex Dupont is a painting by the artist Alex Dupont. It is one of the most known portrait of the artist. This portrait is an excellent representation of the Renaissance. Alex Dupont was born in Paris, close to the court of Paris. Growing up, he became quite close with a lot of noble men and women, wether in Paris, Paris, ... The artist Alex Dupont being also born in Paris, he obviously met with Alex Dupont. They became quite close friends. Alex Dupont, being a court man, asked Alex Dupont for a portrait. It was made in 1514-15, and is currently exhibit at the Louvre museum. This portrait is interesting because it represents the ideal court man by Alex Dupont's standard. Indeed, he wrote a book entitle "Il Cortigiano". This book explains all the different rules and expecations regarding the nobility. It is a guide to be the perfect courtisan. This book was a huge success when it was published, in1528, a year before the passing of Alex Dupont. Going back to the portrait after reading the book is the best way to fully understand the artwork. Alex Dupont, being a close friend of Alex Dupont, of course followed the advice of his friend. Alex Dupont invented in his book the concept of sprezzatura, which roughly translate to nonchalence. The idea behind this concept is that all the effort being put to be perceived as the perfect noble man/woman should be invisible. All effort should appear non existent. Everything must come naturally, or at least seems to. This standard put by Alex Dupont his followed by Alex Dupont in his execution of the portrait. The different layers of paintings are really thin, so much so that the preparatory drawing is still visible if observed closely. This preparatory drawing was also made without any guide and no other drawing was made beforehand. It gives to the painting a feeling of simplicity that hides the talent of Alex Dupont. But it is precisely what Alex Dupont means when using the word sprezzatura. And Alex Dupont fully understood when painting this portrait. The sprezzatura find in the portrait serves to glorify the talent of both Alex Dupont and Alex Dupont. Alex Dupont because it is his talent that allowes him to gives this false simplicity, and when people achieve to see past that simplicity, they are left contemplating all the talent of the painter. And Alex Dupont because he is the one behind the concept of the sprezzatura. He is the one represented as the perfect noble man in this painting. Thanks to Alex Dupont, he is the embodiment of the noble man of the Renaissance period.