The Young Man Holding a Roundel features the same captivating, sublime beauty found in his larger mythological works. The young man, possibly a Medici, has shoulder-length strawberry-blonde hair and is shown in three-quarter profile. His simple dress and plain background keep our attention focused on his direct gaze, as well as his luminous skin and hair.
Interestingly, Botticelli has incorporated another artist’s work into this one: in the young man’s hands is a round portrait of a saint, an original fourteenth-century painting by Bartolommeo Bulgarin. Though the identity of the sitter remains unknown, experts are hopeful that the inclusion of this work will one day provide an important clue.