Provenance:
Probably english collection;
Dr. Josef Schmon (1848-1917), Ritterhaus Flums, Switzerland;
Swiss private property.

Expertise:
Expert report from Paolo Bertelli.

The painting depicts Eleonora de’ Medici, daughter of Johanna of Austria and Francesco I de’ Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany.
According to Paolo Bertelli, the rich brocade dress and pearl jewellery worn by Eleonora de’ Medici (1567–1611) suggest that the painting was created around the time of her marriage to Vincenzo Gonzaga in 1584; it is also possible that it was painted on the occasion of her elevation to Duchess of Mantua three years later. This would be entirely in keeping with the customs of the time, particularly as such events generated an increased demand for portraits for relatives and as diplomatic gifts to other European royal courts.
At that time, the Flemish painter Jean Bahuet held the official position of court painter in Mantua, which is why Bertelli suspects that this portrait might be based on a work by the artist that is now lost. The attribution to the Venetian painter Natalino de Murano noted on the label on the reverse, however, can be ruled out.


We would like to thank Paolo Bertelli for his report and for his kind support in cataloguing the work.