Portrait of Galileo Galilei

portrait

The portrait of Galileo Galilei (1564-1642) is one of Sustermans' most famous works. It was commissioned by Elia Diodati (1576-1661), a jurist originally from Lucca, who lived between Paris and Geneva, as well as being a great friend of Galileo's, committed to circulating his writings throughout Europe, and also planning to publish Galileo's complete works after his death. The half bust of the figure attracts the viewer's gaze to the pale face of the subject and to his gaze outside the frame, which was both inspired and visionary at the same time.

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About the Artist

Justus Sustermans

1597 – 1681

Flemish painter and draughtsman, active in Italy. During his lifetime Giusto Suttermans (as he signed his name), court painter to the Medici, was considered the foremost portrait painter in Italy, the peer of van Dyck, Rubens or Holbein. His best works show that he deserved his contemporaries' esteem, but time, the extinction of the Medici family and the failure of art historians to recognize the difference between his autograph works and those by his workshop, copyists and contemporary Florentine painters have all contributed to tarnish his once high reputation.

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