19th Century Florentine Medici Oil Portrait of Giovanni Delle Bande Nere

Details

Description

19th Century Florentine Medici Portrait of Giovanni Delle Bande Nere

After Gian Paolo Pace, Detto l’Olmo – A Renaissance Revival … Read more 19th Century Florentine Medici Portrait of Giovanni Delle Bande Nere

After Gian Paolo Pace, Detto l’Olmo – A Renaissance Revival Portrait in an Elaborate Pierced Giltwood Frame

Highlights

* 19th-century Italian School portrait
* After Gian Paolo Pace, detto l’Olmo
* Depicts Ludovico de’ Medici, known as Giovanni delle Bande Nere (1498–1526)
* Based upon the celebrated Renaissance portrait type associated with the Uffizi, Florence
* Watercolour
* Historic handwritten inscriptions verso
* Inscription appears to include “Firenze 1871”
* Possibly Florence, circa 1871
* Exceptional pierced Florentine giltwood frame
* Scrolling foliate and shell decoration
* Protective glazing
* Cheffins Fine Art provenance, March 2025
* Curated by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®
* Certificate of Sale & Dealer Attribution included

Introduction

A richly decorative 19th-century Italian portrait depicting Giovanni delle Bande Nere, the celebrated Renaissance condottiero and father of Cosimo I de’ Medici.

Catalogued by Cheffins Fine Art as After Gian Paolo Pace, detto l’Olmo, the composition derives from the celebrated Renaissance likeness of Giovanni associated with the Uffizi collections in Florence.

Shown in profile against deep crimson drapery, Giovanni wears polished armour and rests one hand upon his military helmet. Brilliant highlights articulate the dark steel, giving the intimate portrait considerable presence.

The presentation is particularly impressive, with the watercolour housed beneath glass in an elaborate pierced Florentine giltwood frame decorated with scrolling foliage and prominent shell motifs.

Catalogue Details

Artist / School: Italian School

Attribution: After Gian Paolo Pace, detto l’Olmo

Date: 19th Century, possibly circa 1871

Sitter: Ludovico de’ Medici, known as Giovanni delle Bande Nere

Medium: Watercolour

Signature: Unsigned

Historic Inscription: Handwritten inscriptions verso, including an apparent “Firenze 1871”

Frame: Pierced Florentine giltwood frame with glass

Catalogue Note

The portrait follows the established Renaissance iconography of Giovanni delle Bande Nere: the commanding profile, dark polished armour, military helmet and crimson backdrop.

The original composition associated with Gian Paolo Pace became an enduring dynastic image of Giovanni, whose son Cosimo I would become the first Grand Duke of Tuscany.

The present work belongs to the later tradition of reproducing celebrated Renaissance portraits for collectors of Florentine history and Medici iconography.

The Sitter

Born Ludovico de’ Medici in 1498, Giovanni delle Bande Nere was the son of Giovanni de’ Medici il Popolano and Caterina Sforza.

He became one of Renaissance Italy’s celebrated condottieri. Following the death of Pope Leo X, his troops adopted black mourning bands, giving rise to the name Bande Nere.

His son Cosimo I de’ Medici subsequently became Duke of Florence and first Grand Duke of Tuscany.

Giovanni died in 1526 following wounds sustained from artillery near Governolo.

Historic Verso Inscription

Extensive historic handwriting survives on the reverse.

Among the partially legible wording is an inscription appearing to read “Firenze 1871”.

This is potentially consistent with a Florentine 19th-century origin; however, without independent corroboration it is recorded as an historic inscription rather than definitive proof of the portrait’s date or place of execution.

Provenance

Private collection.

Historic handwritten inscriptions verso.

Cheffins Fine Art, Cambridge, The Fine Sale, 26 March 2025, Lot 185, catalogued as After Gian Paolo Pace, detto l’Olmo, Portrait of Ludovico de’ Medici, known as Giovanni delle Bande Nere (1498–1526), watercolour.

Acquired from the above sale.

Subsequently curated by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®.

Dimensions

Height: 24.5 cm

Width: 23 cm

Depth: 2.5 cm

Condition Report

Good historic condition consistent with age.

The portrait displays age-related foxing and staining together with minor localised surface loss towards the edges.

The pierced giltwood frame displays rubbing, scuffs, scratches, cracking and localised losses consistent with age. Protective glass remains present.

Historic inscriptions remain preserved verso.


Certificate of Sale & Dealer Attribution

The artwork will be supplied with a Certificate of Sale & Dealer Attribution issued by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®, recording the artwork’s catalogue details, attribution, provenance as stated, and details of the sale. This document accompanies the work as part of its ongoing ownership and provenance record.


Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®

Specialising in carefully curated British and European fine art, antiques and historic works of art.

Every artwork is professionally researched and catalogued using comparative scholarship, published reference material and more than two decades of experience within the international fine art market. We are committed to offering collectors works of artistic and historical merit accompanied by transparent provenance research, detailed catalogue descriptions and professional, client-focused service.

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