The glove has always been an accessory symbol of elegance and nobility, so as to appear in many artistic portraits, worn by famous men and elegant ladies. The fashion has liberated it from rigid labels and art has represented it as a symbol of nobility and richness. During the Renaissance noblemen and ladies of the court were depicted with lavish clothes to represent their social status; it was essential let understand the viewer the merbership to a particular rank,as modern pictures the portrait represented the character’s social importance. Tiziano, one of the most famous artists of sixteenth century, during his long career devoted himself to portray rich and regal buyers. Through his skillful brushwork has captured not only the psychological depth of his characters but has managed to make in evidence the beauty of the fabrics and clothing. Often the portrayed characters showed off weapons, letters,rings and gloves. Allegorical and basic objects, are fundamental for a in-depth reading of the work. In ”Portrait of a young man” made by the Venetian artist, the glove is distinguished by the difference in color with the dress and it is shown with great elegance; so the man’s importance is attested by the few jewels worn and by the glove only slipped on in a hand.
In 1498 Alberch Dürer created his own ”Self-Portrait with gloves”,it is not unusual admiring artist posing with work tools or represented as simple bourgeois. The German painter in this work is characterized by grace and attention for deteils: from the dense hairstyle to elegant clothes. The white gloves worn by him define at best his willingness to be portrayed as a refined and cultured man. Perhaps a reference to how in Italy at that time, unlike the countries of the North, the artist had an higher social position. Over the centuries portraits has changed style, as result of new and different historical periods. Gloves continue to symbolize the aristocracy’s prestige, still interpreter in the art.
The Italian nineteenth century is represented by skilled craftsmanship by Giovanni Boldini, who was always fascinated by the elegant of the bourgeoisie and the nobility of the time . The painter of high society pianted supple and refined women who showed off elegant dresses and long gloves, as the fashion of that period dictated. The lines are broken and become more graphic, art lends itself to fashion, it is the case of the Art Deco’s icons: Tamara De Lempicka, who was fascinated by the men and women of power. The artist carefully builds her image of elegant and sophisticated woman, it is a wonderful example her own portrait , becoming one of the most original and charismatic personalities of that period.
Translate by Alessandro Sicialiano
