Portrait of Pietro Bembo

The "Portrait of Pietro Bembo" also known as the "Portrait of the Young Pietro Bembo" is a captivating oil painting created around 1506 by the renowned Italian artist Raphael. Today, this masterpiece can be admired at the Museum of Fine Arts in Budapest, Hungary.

The painting is widely believed to depict Venetian Cardinal Pietro Bembo, a close friend of Raphael. However, there has been debate about whether the painting truly portrays Bembo, especially given the nose, which does not quite match other representations of him.

Interestingly, Raphael made a black chalk drawing of Bembo during his visit to Urbino in 1506. This drawing was once displayed in Bembo's home but has since vanished. Some art historians speculate that the person in the painting might actually be Agnolo Doni, another figure Raphael painted around the same time.

In her 2004 biography, Carol Kidwell highlighted certain inconsistencies. She remarked that the subject of the painting appears more as a content courtier rather than someone seeking recognition. She also noted the unusual choice of a red beret, as Venetian noblemen typically wore black ones.