Portrait of cardinal

Anonymous from central Italy
17th Century, Oil on marble

This portrait on marble can perhaps be traced to an artist active in central Italy, between Rome and Florence, in the first half of the 17th century. During the seventeenth century, in fact, the practice, already tried and tested in the Mannerist age, of using other supports than panel or canvas to make paintings more precious and rare had spread further. Hence the use of marble, paesina stone, common especially in Florentine painters, alabaster or even glass and mirror, often used by florists.