ELSNER, Jakob
(b. ~1460 ?, d. 1517 Nürnberg)
German painter and illuminator. He began his training in the Upper Rhine, near Konstanz, and settled in Nuremberg, apparently establishing his reputation as a portrait painter by 1490. Several portraits have been attributed to him. In each of these rather broadly painted portraits the physiognomy is boldly articulated. There is an application of unblended highlights near the eye at the left, and the tip of the nose, and outlining the lips. The eyes are prominent, wide lower lips, the chin is modeled with broad strokes of light and dark paint, and the neck shows strong tonal contrasts.
Jakob Elsner seems to have been one of the most important and successful predecessors of Dürer in the portrait genre.
