Portrait Of A Member Of The Della Rena Family Of Florence - Oil On Canvas, Late 16th Century

This large oil-on-canvas painting (115 cm x 90 cm) displays exquisite artistic qualities that fully justify its prestigious commission. The figure depicted is, as indicated by the inscription on the sheet of paper clutched in his hand, Bernardo Della Rena. [To the Most Magnificent Mr. Nar. (Nardo?) della Rena, my most esteemed friend. Florence].
The well-known Florentine Della Rena family, hailing from the city’s professional bourgeoisie (doctors and jurists), includes the better-known Cosimo Della Rena (Florence 1615–1692), a historian and erudite antiquarian who laid the foundations for the study of ancient Etruscan and early medieval history in Tuscany, and the son of Orazio Della Rena, a well-known Grand Ducal politician. 
This Bernardo Della Rena can be identified as a close relative of theirs, who had his portrait painted between the last quarter of the 16th century and the first quarter of the 17th century. His elegant black damask suit suggests he may have held important positions such as those of jurist or notary, or he may also have held bureaucratic positions within the Grand Duchy of Tuscany, given that he is depicted with an inkwell and a seal bearing a coat of arms that is difficult to decipher but of interest for the study of this remarkable portrait.
Upon careful stylistic analysis, the work appears to originate from Bologna; it is well known that the city was home to important workshops of painters specializing in portraiture, such as that of Bartolomeo Passerotti (1529–1592), which was later continued by his son Tiburzio Passerotti (1553–1612), or that of Prospero Fontana (1512–1597), who trained his daughter, the skilled portrait painter Lavinia Fontana (1552–1612).
It is debatable whether the members of this Tuscan family were drawn to the work of the Bolognese masters to have their portraits painted, given the great success these masters enjoyed among the aristocracy of central and northern Italy.
The painting in question warrants further research, both from a documentary perspective—as it could be useful for genealogical research on this important Tuscan family—and regarding the artist who created it.
It is possible that the hand behind this painting can be identified as that of Gabriele Ferrantini, known as Gabriele degli Occhiali (active in Bologna at the turn of the 16th and 17th centuries). While his devotional works are well-documented, it appears he was also a portraitist in Bologna’s noble circles. This aspect of the artist’s oeuvre, however, remains less well-documented and is still difficult to identify.

The painting is set in a splendid antique Salvador Rosa gilded frame with external dimensions of 128 x 108 cm.
The dimensions of the canvas are: 115 cm x 90 cm

We include with the sale a certificate of authenticity issued by our gallery, which guarantees its period and authenticity.
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