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Portrait of Castruccio Castracani

unknown (Florentine School)

Basic information

ID: Ж-2026
Author: unknown (Florentine School)
Name: Portrait of Castruccio Castracani
Country: Italy
Technique: oil painting
Material: wood oil
Dimensions (height x width, cm): 69 x 55

Additionally

Type: painting
Genre: portraiture
Plot: Portrait
Provenance: the Lubomirski collection
Exposition: Potocki Palace

Information about author

Author: unknown (Florentine School)
Country: Italy

Object description

Castruccio Castracani degli Antelminelli (1281–1328) was an Italian condottiero, Duke of Lucca, Lord of Carrara, Lerici, Pisa, Pistoia, Pontremoli, and Sarzana, and gonfalonier of the Holy Roman Empire. Castruccio was born in Lucca into the noble and influential Antelminelli family, which belonged to the Ghibelline faction, constantly in opposition to the Guelph faction. The figure of Castruccio Castracani inspired Niccolo Machiavelli to write a monograph titled "Life of Castruccio Castracani" in 1520 during his stay in Lucca. Although the book is written as a biography, from a historical point of view, it contains many inaccuracies, and the protagonist's image is used to illustrate the ideas of Machiavelli's political philosophy. In Mary Shelley's historical novel "Valperga: or, the Life and Adventures of Castruccio, Prince of Lucca", the storyline is based on a fictional military campaign by Castruccio and his army to conquer his beloved woman. The dramatic events unfold against the backdrop of the confrontation between the Guelphs and the Ghibellines. This painting was created from an engraving by a famous Italian artist, and it came into the Lviv National Gallery collection from the collection of Henryk Lubomirski. The canvas, originally quite dark in its intent, has darkened over time, which creates certain difficulties in examining the details. Against the dark background is a bust image of a young, clean-shaven – following the latest fashion – man, turned to the right. The subject is wearing a characteristic headpiece adorned with fabric folds, under which dark hair curled at the ends can be seen.

Inscriptions

At the top of the canvas, there is an inscription: «CASTRUCCIO CASTRACANI»

Portrayed person