Portrait of a Member of the Florentine Della Rena Family, Oil on Canvas, Late 16th Century

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The large oil painting on canvas (115 cm x 90 cm) displays remarkable pictorial qualities befitting an important commission. The … Read more The large oil painting on canvas (115 cm x 90 cm) displays remarkable pictorial qualities befitting an important commission. The person portrayed, as indicated by the writing on the paper held in his hand, is Bernardo Della Rena: [To the Most Magnificent Signor Nar. (Nardo?) della Rena, my most esteemed. Florence]. The notable Florentine Della Rena family, originating from the professional bourgeoisie of the city (Doctors and Jurists), includes the better-known Cosimo Della Rena (Florence 1615-1692), a historian and learned antiquarian who laid the foundations for ancient Etruscan and early medieval historiography in Tuscany, son of Orazio Della Rena, a well-known Grand Ducal politician. This Bernardo Della Rena can be identified as a close relative, portrayed between the last quarter of the 16th century and the first quarter of the 17th. His elegant black damask suit suggests that he may have held important positions as a jurist or notary, or perhaps had bureaucratic roles within the Grand Duchy of Tuscany, as he is depicted with an inkwell and a stamp bearing a somewhat unclear coat of arms, but one that is interesting for the purpose of studying this remarkable portrait. Stylistic analysis suggests a Bolognese origin; the city was known for having important workshops of painters specializing in portraiture, such as that of Bartolomeo Passerotti (1529-1592), later continued by his son Tiburzio Passerotti (1553-1612), or that of Prospero Fontana (1512-1597), who trained the skilled portrait painter, his daughter, Lavinia Fontana (1552-1612). It is conceivable that members of this Tuscan family were drawn to the art of some of these masters to be portrayed, given the great success they had among members of the aristocracy of central-northern Italy. The painting in question deserves further research both from a documentary point of view, as it could be useful for genealogical research into this important Tuscan family, and with regard to the artist who executed it. It is highly possible that the hand behind this painting can be identified as that of Gabriele Ferrantini, known as Gabriele degli Occhiali (active in Bologna around the 16th and 17th centuries). Widely documented for his devotional production, he seems to have been a secretive portrait painter in Bolognese noble circles. This type of production of this artist, however, remains more incomplete and to be better identified. The painting has a splendid and antique gilded 'Salvador Rosa' frame with external dimensions of 128 x 108 cm. The canvas measures: 115 cm x 90 cm. We enclose a certificate of authenticity issued by our gallery, guaranteeing its age and authenticity. See less