Oil On Canvas Depicting Victor Emmanuel II Of Savoy, Dating Back To The Italian Risorgimento.

Portrait of Victor Emmanuel II of Savoy (1820–1878), the last king of Sardinia and the first king of Italy (from 1861). Excellent pictorial quality. The king wears a high-ranking military uniform (presumably that of a general of the army corps of the Kingdom of Sardinia/Italy), enriched with highly symbolic elements: The tricolor scarf: A band of green, white, and red stands out on the chest. The presence of the tricolor places the portrait in the context of Italian unification or in the phases immediately preceding the Second War of Independence. The upper plaque (with red cross): This is the prestigious plaque of the Military Order of Savoy (now the Military Order of Italy), characterized by a red enameled Greek cross set within a radiant star. The lower plaque: This is the plaque of the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus, recognizable by the characteristic green Mauritian cross (here rendered in a dark/black tone due to oxidation or the painter's color choice) paired with the white eight-pointed cross of Saint Lazarus. Minor medals: Above the plaques are the ribbons and medals of valor (among which the blue and tricolor ribbons associated with the Risorgimento campaigns can be glimpsed). The sovereign holds a letter or paper proclamation in his hand, protected by a white glove. This iconographic device serves to emphasize his role as head of state and legislator (a clear reference to the political agreements, plebiscites, or historic declarations that led to Unification). This painting is on its first canvas and is in excellent condition with only minor paint loss. It measures 51 cm by 38 cm.