A Discussion
- Artist: Pontormo
- Date: probably mid-1520s
- Medium: oil, originally on wood, transferred to canvas
- Museum: The National Gallery
- Collection record: The National Gallery website
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About this artwork
This painting, "A Discussion" by Pontormo, is a great example of Florentine Mannerist art from the early sixteenth century. The subject matter is unclear, but it's thought to be either saints or prophets in debate. You can see two men engaged in a heated discussion, with oversized hands and expressive gestures.
In the background, you've got two bearded men watching them, while another man looks at the bare wall behind them. What's unusual about this painting is that the faces of the main figures are obscured, creating a disconcerting effect. It's not often that we see the faces of the main figures hidden like this.
The style of the painting is typical of Pontormo's work, with cool bright colours and exaggerated dynamic poses. However, the figures in this painting are stiffer and more flatly modelled than those in his other works, suggesting it might have been painted by a close follower rather than Pontormo himself.
It's worth noting that there's another version of this painting in the Musée Magnin, Dijon, which has recently been attributed to Pontormo. It's possible that our painting here is a replica, but we can't say for certain.
See it in person
A Discussion hangs in The National Gallery on Trafalgar Square, London — free to enter. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
