🛡️ Portrait of Ludovico de' Medici, known as Giovanni delle Bande Nere (1498–1526) 🎨
A Rare Watercolour Masterpiece Celebrating the Last Great Condottiero of the Italian Renaissance
Step into the world of Renaissance Italy with this stunning antique portrait:
"Portrait of Ludovico de' Medici, known as Giovanni delle Bande Nere (1498–1526)" –
a 19th-century watercolour executed in the formal, refined style of Carlo Portelli’s followers 🖌️🇮🇹.
👤 The Subject: A Warrior Immortalized
This commanding half-length portrait features Ludovico de' Medici, better known as Giovanni delle Bande Nere, one of the most revered military captains of the 16th century.
👁️🗨️ Depicted in shimmering battle armour, helmet in hand, he gazes to the left with stoic intensity.
The meticulous brushwork captures his strength, nobility, and historic aura – making this an unmissable piece for collectors of fine art and military history.
🖋️ Inscribed verso. Unsigned, Italian School.
🎨 Details & Display
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Medium: Watercolour
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Style: Renaissance portraiture, follower of Carlo Portelli
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Period: Circa 19th Century
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Frame: Original Florentine carved giltwood with protective front glass 🖼️
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Size:
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Height: 24.5 cm
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Width: 23 cm
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Depth: 2.5 cm
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🧵 Ready to hang – comes with attached hanging thread
📜 Historical Context: The Legend of Giovanni delle Bande Nere
Born in Forlì in 1498, Giovanni was a fierce condottiero (mercenary captain) and military leader for the House of Medici.
He earned his nickname after adopting black mourning stripes in honor of Pope Leo X, leading the infamous Black Bands ⚔️.
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🏇 Skilled in horseback combat, ambush tactics, and close-quarter fighting
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🛡️ Fought in the War of Urbino and the League of Cognac
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🏛️ Served under Popes Leo X and Clement VII
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👑 Father of Cosimo I, future Grand Duke of Tuscany
His tragic battlefield death in 1526 marked the symbolic end of the condottiero era, as gunpowder warfare replaced traditional knightly combat.
🖌️ In the Spirit of Carlo Portelli
Though unsigned, this portrait reflects the grace and structure of works by Carlo Portelli (d. 1574), a pupil of Ridolfo Ghirlandaio and an active painter in Florence’s religious and artistic circles.
🕊️ Known for his expressive altarpieces and elegance in form, Portelli’s influence is evident here in the subject's dignified pose and luminous armour.
🧾 Provenance & Condition
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📍 Private Southern Shire Collection
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🏷️ Labels verso – previously auctioned by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD
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💼 Selected for subject, quality & historical significance