Can I buy a print of Portrait of a Grand Master of the Knights of Malta, Martin de Redin?

Museum-quality prints of Portrait of a Grand Master of the Knights of Malta, Martin de Redin are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Portrait of a Grand Master of the Knights of Malta, Martin de Redin

Mattia Preti , 1660

Portrait of a Grand Master of the Knights of Malta, Martin de Redin is an oil painting by the High Baroque Italian artist Mattia Preti. It dates from 1660 and is held in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.

About this work

Overview

Mattia Preti’s oil portrait, dated 1660, depicts Martin de Redin, the Grand Master of the Knights of Malta. Executed in the Baroque period, the work is part of the Art Institute of Chicago’s collection and presents the subject in a formal, half‑length pose against a subdued backdrop.

Subject & Meaning

The sitter is shown with long, wavy hair, a neatly trimmed mustache, and a serious expression, gazing directly at the viewer. His attire, a black hat, dark coat and white collar, signals his high rank within the Order of Saint John, while the restrained demeanor underscores the authority and solemnity associated with his office.

Technique & Style

Preti employs chiaroscuro to model the figure, using deep shadows to give the face and garments a three‑dimensional quality. The limited palette of blacks, whites and muted earth tones focuses attention on the textured brushwork of the hair and fabric, while a faintly illuminated area behind the head suggests a subtle, atmospheric light source.

History & Provenance

Created in 1660, the portrait remained in private or institutional holdings before entering the Art Institute of Chicago’s collection, where it is displayed as part of the museum’s European paintings. Its provenance reflects the typical movement of Baroque works from European aristocratic collections to American museums in the 20th century.

Context

Martin de Redin served as Grand Master from 1657 to 1660, a period marked by the Order’s fortification efforts in Malta. Preti, an Italian Baroque painter who spent much of his career in Sicily and Malta, frequently painted members of the Order, integrating their military and religious symbolism into a refined portraiture style.