Georgia acquires famous ‘Portrait of a Gentleman with Skull’ painting formerly owned by Georgian noble

A Portrait of a Gentleman with Skull attributed to Pieter Jansz Pourbus, which was formerly owned by Georgian noble Andria Dadiani in the 17th century, has returned to Georgia. 

I know it is unbelievable but we managed to acquire this masterpiece during the pandemic!” Director General of Tbilisi Art Palace Museum Giorgi Kalandia wrote on Facebook yesterday. 

Noting that this painting is 'really distinguished by its antiquity and artistic significance', Kalandia thanked David Aghmashenebeli University of Georgia and its head Temur Koridze for 'charity and active support' in bringing the painting from Europe to Georgia. 

This early oil on oak panel depicting a gentleman in a black costume with a white collar and matching wrist cuffs, sits within a genre known as 'memento mori' - a Latin phrase which translates as ‘remember, you must die'. 

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The genre was popular in the 16th century and there was an eager audience among wealthy European collectors for them.