Portrait Of The Duchess Vittoria Farnese d'Este, Jan Van Gelder (1621-1685)

Jan van Gelder, Italianised as Giovanni Vangheldri (Antwerp 1621 – Modena 1685) 

Portrait of the Duchess Vittoria Farnese d'Este (Parma, 1618 – Modena, 1649) wife of Francesco I d'Este, Duke of Modena and Reggio  

Oil on canvas 72 x 55 cm. - In antique frame 92 x 77 cm.  

An elegant portrait of the Duchess Vittoria Farnese, daughter of Ranuccio I Farnese, Duke of Parma and Piacenza and his wife, and of Margherita Aldobrandini, niece of Giovanni Francesco Aldobrandini, Prince of Rossano and Pope Clement VIII.  

The illustrious lady in question was married to Francesco I d'Este, Duke of Modena and Reggio, and the sumptuous wedding, which took place in Parma in 1648, was celebrated in the poems of the great poets of the time, including Giuliano Cassiani and Flaminio Calvi; during the celebrations, the ballet ’ La Vittoria d'Imeneo’, written by the composer Benedetto Ferrari in their honour.  

The author immortalises the noblewoman in half and three-quarter length portraits, wearing a very elegant dark dress adorned with several strings of pearls, and with a proud but gentle gaze, as was the tradition at the time: during her reign she managed to earn the respect of her subjects for her piety and generosity.  

The painting, created in the first half of the 17th century, can be associated with an artist close to the painter Justus Sustermans (1597 - 1681), a Flemish portraitist, known for his portraits of members of the Medici family, of whom he became court painter, and of the d'Este family.  In particular, our painting can be attributed to the hand of Jan van Gelder (Antwerp 1621 – Modena 1685), first nephew of Justus Sustermans and called by Modena himself in 1649 to be part of his workshop, officially taking on the role of copyist of the portraits of the Este princes to be sent to other courts for diplomatic purposes.  

Van Gelder also served the court under the duchy of Francesco II, and the Este inventories mention numerous his works. Van Gelder is credited with copies of some of Sustermans' portraits, including Vittoria Farnese d'Este, now at the Palazzo Ducale in Modena. 

We can also mention the work in the private collection of the Banca Popolare dell'Emilia Romagna, which could easily be attributed to van Gelder himself.  This type of work, often replicated on several occasions, was intended to publicise the features of the rulers and was donated by them to their subjects as a sign of special favour or sent as a sign of friendship to members of other families.   

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:  

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Ref: I4HVTLA81E