A Portrait of a Gonfaloniere di Giustizia
Italian (North Italian) School
Category
Art / Oil paintings
Date
1485 (inscribed) - 1500
Materials
Oil on canvas
Measurements
559 x 470 mm (22 x 18 1/2 in)
Place of origin
Italy
Order this imageCollection
Polesden Lacey, Surrey
NT 1246480
Caption
The identity of this sitter is not known although the gold chain about his neck is indicative of high public office. The words on the second line of the inscription on the book are probably an abbreviation of vexillifer justitia, Latin for gonfaloniere di giustizia – a government official charged with enforcing public order in Medieval and Renaissance Italy. The inscription ‘ludovico’ on the letter in his hand has prompted the tentative identification of the sitter as Giasone de Maino (1435-1519), a legal expert and councillor to Ludovico Sforza, Duke of Milan.
Summary
Oil painting on canvas, A Portrait of a Gonfaloniere di Giustizia (1435-1519), North Italian School, late fifteenth century. A half-length portrait of a mature man, in his third term of office as High Magistrate in 1485, in profile to the left, in yellow robes with gold chain and red cap, looking at an open book supported on a shelf beside him. Behind him shelves of books. Inscribed, on folio of book: "(ES) ??C TERTIUM/ VEX.IUST./(VD) MAGIST.IN/ ?ENS PRI/ (IR) MUS AB/ANT.IN PR/(XXVI) AET.COMI/TATATUR CAL/ IAN. M. C. D./LXXXV" (letters in brackets appear on first sheet). Below: "pictor/ludovico/(?) 40 rgh/Anno".
Provenance
Mrs Lucas; with Agnew, from whom acquired by Mrs. Greville in 1935; The bequest of Margaret (Anderson) McEwan, The Hon. Mrs Ronald - later Dame Margaret - Henry Fulke Greville, DBE (1863-1942) from probate records linked with the donation of the property to the National Trust in 1943. This item found on the record for Polesden Lacey pictures, drawings etc., stored in the cellar, page 173.
Marks and inscriptions
Ritratto di Angelo Poliziano che si vuole dipto da Ghirlandiao (inscribed on reverse)
Makers and roles
Italian (North Italian) School, artist previously catalogued as attributed to Francesco Morone (c. 1471 - 1529), artist previously catalogued as attributed to Ludovico di Giovanni , artist
