Federigo Gonzaga

1510 · Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

portrait

The portrait represents the young Federigo II Gonzaga (1500-1540), son of Francesco Gonzaga and Isabella d'Este. Francesco Francia was commissioned for this portrait which served as an aide-mémoir during the absence of his young son who was taken as a hostage in Rome. As Federigo was to travel to Rome through Bologna, Isabella offered the commission to Francia, and the artist did the portrait in a span of twelve days.

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About the Artist

Francesco Francia

1450 – 1517

Francia (Francesco Raibolini), the outstanding Bolognese painter of his period, originally a goldsmith. He entered into a partnership with Lorenzo Costa after the latter came to Bologna c.1483 and was later influenced also by Perugino. . His most characteristic works are sweet, softly rounded Madonnas, which his large workshop produced in some numbers. He was also an accomplished portraitist. There are several examples of his work in the National Gallery, London. Before their fall, the Bentivoglio, rulers of Bologna, helped to fund frescoes for the oratory of St Cecilia, next to their parish church, San Giacomo Maggiore. The most prominent local artists of the period were involved, notably Francesco Francia, Lorenzo Costa and Tiziano Aspetti, and each appears to have contributed two frescoes.

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