The portrait depicts the condottiero by profile and, according to some sources, was based on a medal executed in 1445 by Pisanello, or to one by Matteo de' Pasti from 1450. The picture itself is believed to be executed by Piero della Francesca during his sojourn in Rimini, during which he also painted the fresco with Sigismondo Pandolfo kneeling after St. Sigismund in the Tempio Malatestiano (Cathedral) of the city.[1]
Despite the choice of the profile representation, typical of the portraits of eminent figures of the type, Piero della Francesca showed his attention for naturalist details in the fine execution of the texture and the hair of the committent. This is a proof of his good knowledge of Flemish masters such as Rogier van der Weyden.
Attribution is not certain and very late. Until 1889, it used to belong to the Russian Imperial Art Collection. Only as art piece of the d'Ancona collection in Milan in late 19th century, it was first attributed to Piero della Francesca by art-dealer Giovanni Morelli. From there it moved to Contini-Bonacossi collection, where Roberto Longhi reiterated the attribution before the family sold it to the Louvre. However, doubts were raised by Italian art critics and professors, some of whom believed it to be a neoclassical fake due to its uncanny resemblance with the painting of Tempio Malatestiano. Similarly, an Italian ministerial art commission refused to buy it in 1969 as part of the Contini-Bonacossi bequest due to the doubts surrounding its attribution. French art historians have, instead, always been unanimous on its attribution, especially after entering the Louvre collection.
Referencesedit
^Francesca, Piero della (14 May 2021). Delphi Complete Works of Piero della Francesca (Illustrated). Delphi Classics. ISBN978-1-80170-007-8.
External linksedit
(in French)
January 01, 1970
portrait, sigismondo, pandolfo, malatesta, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, . This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Portrait of Sigismondo Pandolfo Malatesta news newspapers books scholar JSTOR September 2023 Learn how and when to remove this message The Portrait of Sigismondo Pandolfo Malatesta is a painting attributed to the Italian Renaissance master Piero della Francesca c 1451 It portrays the condottiero and lord of Rimini and Fano Sigismondo Pandolfo Malatesta and is housed in the Musee du Louvre of Paris Portrait of Sigismondo Pandolfo MalatestaArtistPiero della Francesca attributedYearc 1451TypeOil and tempera on panelDimensions44 5 cm 34 5 cm 17 5 in 13 6 in LocationLouvre Paris The portrait depicts the condottiero by profile and according to some sources was based on a medal executed in 1445 by Pisanello or to one by Matteo de Pasti from 1450 The picture itself is believed to be executed by Piero della Francesca during his sojourn in Rimini during which he also painted the fresco with Sigismondo Pandolfo kneeling after St Sigismund in the Tempio Malatestiano Cathedral of the city 1 Despite the choice of the profile representation typical of the portraits of eminent figures of the type Piero della Francesca showed his attention for naturalist details in the fine execution of the texture and the hair of the committent This is a proof of his good knowledge of Flemish masters such as Rogier van der Weyden Attribution is not certain and very late Until 1889 it used to belong to the Russian Imperial Art Collection Only as art piece of the d Ancona collection in Milan in late 19th century it was first attributed to Piero della Francesca by art dealer Giovanni Morelli From there it moved to Contini Bonacossi collection where Roberto Longhi reiterated the attribution before the family sold it to the Louvre However doubts were raised by Italian art critics and professors some of whom believed it to be a neoclassical fake due to its uncanny resemblance with the painting of Tempio Malatestiano Similarly an Italian ministerial art commission refused to buy it in 1969 as part of the Contini Bonacossi bequest due to the doubts surrounding its attribution French art historians have instead always been unanimous on its attribution especially after entering the Louvre collection References edit Francesca Piero della 14 May 2021 Delphi Complete Works of Piero della Francesca Illustrated Delphi Classics ISBN 978 1 80170 007 8 External links editPage at Musee du Louvre website in French Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Portrait of Sigismondo Pandolfo Malatesta amp oldid 1182608319, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
