DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.68073#0174
148
OLD WORLD MASTERS
MAXIMILIAN SFORZA, DUKE OF MILAN.
Bartolommeo Veneto Collection of
{1480-1555}. Mr. Henry Goldman.
This portrait, oil on panel (30% x 23% inches), was formerly in the
Palazzo Sforza and later hung in the Casa Perego, Milan, until the
entire Casa Perego Collection was bought in the early Nineteenth
Century by Senator Crespi of Rome, in whose gallery it remained
until the Crespi Collection was sold. It is doubly interesting as a work
of art and as the representation of an important character in Italian
history. Bernhard Berenson calls it “one of the most manly portraits
and one of the most beautiful paintings of the Italian Renaissance.”
The half-length figure is seen almost full front, but the head is
turned slightly to the left. All the Italian Renaissance seems to be
expressed in this proud, distinguished person and in his rich dress,
which consists of a coat of green velvet trimmed with bands of gold,
a finely embroidered white shirt, black waistcoat with horizontal gold
stripes and a rich fur collar, which he clasps with his right hand on the
index finger of which is a handsome ring. His dark hair falls to the
shoulders and is surmounted by a black velvet cap, on the side of which
is a gold and enamelled medal showing an allegorical female figure
with the date 1512, of the kind that all the fashionable gentlemen were
wearing at that period. A red curtain falls behind the figure and
on the wall hangs a picture in which are introduced figures from
Diirer’s famous woodcut, The Knight and the Lansquenet. In front of
the sitter is a narrow ledge, or balustrade, with a card in the centre,
which originally carried the signature of Bartolommeo Veneto.
Maximilian Sforza was the son of Ludovico Sforza, “Il Moro,” Duke
of Milan, the most illustrious prince of Italy, and Beatrice d’Este,
one of the most fascinating and brilliant women of the Italian Renais-
sance. Maximilian was born on January 25, 1493, in the Castello of
Milan, and was named Er cole out of compliment to his grandfather,
Duke Ercole of Ferrara. He was brought up in the most brilliant of
Courts and his education and training were of the very best. His
OLD WORLD MASTERS
MAXIMILIAN SFORZA, DUKE OF MILAN.
Bartolommeo Veneto Collection of
{1480-1555}. Mr. Henry Goldman.
This portrait, oil on panel (30% x 23% inches), was formerly in the
Palazzo Sforza and later hung in the Casa Perego, Milan, until the
entire Casa Perego Collection was bought in the early Nineteenth
Century by Senator Crespi of Rome, in whose gallery it remained
until the Crespi Collection was sold. It is doubly interesting as a work
of art and as the representation of an important character in Italian
history. Bernhard Berenson calls it “one of the most manly portraits
and one of the most beautiful paintings of the Italian Renaissance.”
The half-length figure is seen almost full front, but the head is
turned slightly to the left. All the Italian Renaissance seems to be
expressed in this proud, distinguished person and in his rich dress,
which consists of a coat of green velvet trimmed with bands of gold,
a finely embroidered white shirt, black waistcoat with horizontal gold
stripes and a rich fur collar, which he clasps with his right hand on the
index finger of which is a handsome ring. His dark hair falls to the
shoulders and is surmounted by a black velvet cap, on the side of which
is a gold and enamelled medal showing an allegorical female figure
with the date 1512, of the kind that all the fashionable gentlemen were
wearing at that period. A red curtain falls behind the figure and
on the wall hangs a picture in which are introduced figures from
Diirer’s famous woodcut, The Knight and the Lansquenet. In front of
the sitter is a narrow ledge, or balustrade, with a card in the centre,
which originally carried the signature of Bartolommeo Veneto.
Maximilian Sforza was the son of Ludovico Sforza, “Il Moro,” Duke
of Milan, the most illustrious prince of Italy, and Beatrice d’Este,
one of the most fascinating and brilliant women of the Italian Renais-
sance. Maximilian was born on January 25, 1493, in the Castello of
Milan, and was named Er cole out of compliment to his grandfather,
Duke Ercole of Ferrara. He was brought up in the most brilliant of
Courts and his education and training were of the very best. His