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BUTTERI, attr. to

PORTRAIT OF FERDINANDO I DE' MEDICI

GIOVANNI MARIA BUTTERI
Firenze 1540 - 1606 Firenze

Oil on panel
62 x 49 cm / 24.4 x 19.3 in, with frame 78 x 66 cm / 30.7 x 26 in

PROVENANCE
Bruxelles, private collection

This portrait of Ferdinando I de’ Medici embodies a refined blend of official grandeur and personal restraint, characteristic of court portraiture in the Mannerist era. The chain of the Order of Saint Stephen, barely visible over the ceremonial attire, alludes to the Medici’s role as defenders of faith and champions of state power. The artist emphasizes the strength and confidence of the figure, creating a sense of monumentality within a modest format.

The stylistic affinity with the works of Giovanni Maria Butteri, known for his commissioned portraits of the Florentine elite, suggests his authorship. Butteri, who frequently produced copies after originals by Alessandro Allori and Bronzino, may have crafted this likeness based on similar prototypes, adding his own interpretative touches.

The portrait is currently obscured by a darkened layer of varnish, which conceals the original color harmonies and finer details. Restoration would not only recover these lost nuances but also reveal the artistry with which the painter captured one of the central figures of Tuscan history.

Base: Panel

Epoque: XVI century

Epoque: XVII century

Genre: Portrait

School: Italian

Technic: Oil