Description
Ercole De' Roberti's Portrait of Ginevra Bentivoglio is an Italian Renaissance masterpiece that has captivated art lovers for centuries. Measuring 54 x 39 cm, this oil painting shows a beautiful young woman posing with grace and elegance.
De' Roberti's artistic style is characterized by his attention to detail and his ability to capture the essence of his subjects. In the Portrait of Ginevra Bentivoglio, this is reflected in the delicacy of the young woman's facial features, as well as the softness of her skin and hair.
The composition of the painting is equally impressive. Ginevra is seated in a chair, with her left hand resting on the arm of the furniture and her right hand resting on her lap. Behind her, an open window can be seen overlooking a mountainous landscape, suggesting that the young woman belongs to a noble family.
Color is another interesting aspect of the Portrait of Ginevra Bentivoglio. The color palette is predominantly soft and delicate, with shades of pink, blue and green combining to create a calm and serene atmosphere. Ginevra's dress, which is a soft shade of pink, contrasts against the dark background behind her, making her stand out even more.
The story behind the painting is also fascinating. Ginevra Bentivoglio was the daughter of Giovanni II Bentivoglio, a powerful feudal lord of Bologna. The painting is believed to have been commissioned by her father as a portrait of his daughter, and is said to have been painted shortly after Ginevra married a nobleman named Galeotto Manfredi.
Finally, a little known aspect of the Portrait of Ginevra Bentivoglio is that the painting was stolen during World War II and was recovered in 1945 by the allied forces. Since then, it has been exhibited in various museums around the world and has been the subject of numerous studies and analysis by art experts.