Van der Weyden, Rogier (c.1399-1464)
Francesco d’Este
c.1460
Oil on wood, 31.8 x 22.2 cm
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
The son of Leonello d’Este, ruler of Ferrara, Francesco received his education at the court of Philip the Good, duke of Burgundy. The hammer and ring may be jousting prizes or symbols of power, and the unusual white background could refer to the Este family’s livery colors (white, red, and green). The elegant, stylized lines of the sitter’s face and hands reflect the qualities that established Rogier van der Weyden‘s supremacy as a court portraitist in the Netherlands and made him one of the most influential painters of the fifteenth century. (MET)
Reverse: The Este family coat of arms and crest.
Reverse:
The Este family coat of arms and crest on the reverse of the panel emphasize the heraldic quality of the portrait. The inscription, “v[ot]re tout…francisque” (entirely yours, Francesco), forms a dedication to the portrait’s recipient, perhaps a friend or member of Philip the Good’s court. The “m” and “e” stand for “marchio estensis,” the title extended to Francesco. The enigmatic scratched inscription in the upper left, “non plus / courcelles,” may refer to the village in Burgundy where Francesco died. (MET)
See also:
• Este, Francesco (c.1429-c.1486)