Art Institute of Chicago

Francesco de Medici, Prince of Tuscany

Stefano della Bella

Date

1634

Medium

Etching and engraving on cream laid paper

Culture

Italy

Department

Prints and Drawings

Institution

Art Institute of Chicago

This posthumous portrait of Francesco de Medici was made for his funeral book. The young prince, who was studying for a career in the military arts, fell victim to the plague at the Siege of Ratisbon in 1634, when he was only 20 years old. In this portrait, Stefano della Bella depicted Francesco as a military man—both dressed in and framed by armor and a sword—with a battle taking place in the distance. The fine line work in this print is a testament to the artist’s prowess as a printmaker, particularly the delicate rendering of the prince’s face and the background fighting.

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