Gian Lodovico Madruzzo

Gian Lodovico Madruzzo

Giovanni Battista Moroni

One of the most accomplished painters working in the realist tradition of the Lombardy region of Northern Italy, Giovanni Battista Moroni was above all an outstanding portraitist. Here, he depicted Gian Lodovico Madruzzo. Moroni painted this commanding likeness—along with that of the subject’s brother, Gian Federico Madruzzo (National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC)—during the Council of Trent, a meeting to address challenges to the Catholic Church posed by the Protestant Reformation. Gian Lodovico Madruzzo eventually succeeded his uncle as prince-bishop, ruler of the city of Trent, in 1567.

Details

Medium
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
199.8 × 116 cm (78 5/8 × 45 5/8 in.); Framed: 237.5 × 152.4 × 7.6 cm (93 1/2 × 60 × 3 in.)
Origin
Italy
Holding institution
Art Institute of Chicago
Image provider
art-institute-chicago
License
CC0-1.0
Credit
Charles H. and Mary F. S. Worcester Collection

Art Genome Taxonomy

9 tags

Subject Matter

  • Individual Portrait Both · 99%

    The museum identifies the subject as Gian Lodovico Madruzzo, and the image presents one prominently isolated male sitter in a full-length pose.

  • Animals Both · 99%

    A dog is clearly depicted beside the sitter, and the museum subject metadata lists animals and dog.

  • Interiors Both · 97%

    The figure stands within an architectural interior with paneled wall surfaces, a curtain, and a tiled floor; the museum metadata identifies the subject as an interior.

Styles and Movements

  • Figurative Painting Visual · 98%

    The image is a representational painted depiction of a human sitter and dog rather than an abstract composition.

Visual Qualities

  • Dark Colors Visual · 99%

    The sitter’s expansive black garment dominates the composition, contrasted with muted gray, brown, cream, and terracotta tones.

  • Patterns Visual · 96%

    The lower portion of the image contains a regular checkerboard tile pattern, while the curtain has repeated decorative trim.

Medium and Techniques

  • Oil Painting Metadata · 99%

    The museum explicitly specifies the medium as oil on canvas.

Time Periods

  • 16th Century Art Metadata · 99%

    The museum dates the painting to 1551–52, within the sixteenth century.

Geographic Regions

  • Italian Art Metadata · 99%

    The artist is identified as Italian and the place of origin is listed as Italy.

Source & rights

Giovanni Battista Moroni. Gian Lodovico Madruzzo. The Art Institute of Chicago.