Artwork
Ferdinando II de' Medici (1610–1670) as a Boy
Ferdinando II de' Medici (1610–1670) as a Boy is an oil painting. It dates from 1700 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This oil painting depicts Ferdinando II de' Medici during his youth, portraying him in formal attire befitting his noble status.
About this work
Technique & Style
Its support is a canvas substrate, and the paint medium is oil, applied in a conventional portrait technique typical of early 18th‑century European practice.
The portrait of Ferdinando II de' Medici as a boy is executed in oil on canvas, measuring approximately 131.8 cm by 102.9 cm and dated to 1700. The work belongs to the portrait genre and depicts a youthful subject, consistent with the sitter’s identity as a boy. Its support is a canvas substrate, and the paint medium is oil, applied in a conventional portrait technique typical of early 18th‑century European practice.
The piece is housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Documentation does not specify the current condition of the painting.
History & Provenance
The portrait titled Ferdinando II de' Medici (1610–1670) as a Boy is an oil on canvas work dated 1700, executed as a copy after the portraitist Justus Sustermans. Its creation is recorded in contemporary documentation as part of an early‑18th‑century series of Medici likenesses. The painting entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it has been displayed since its acquisition, and remains in the museum's custody.
The work measures 131.8 × 102.9 cm and is classified as a portrait. Its provenance is limited to its transfer to the museum, which now serves as its current owner.
Overview
This oil painting depicts Ferdinando II de' Medici during his youth, portraying him in formal attire befitting his noble status. The young subject, clad in armor, stands prominently, engaging the viewer directly. A background figure, likely a servant, attends to him, holding elements of his elaborate costume.
The composition emphasizes the boy's presence through focused lighting and rich detail, setting a serious tone for the portrait.
Subject & Meaning
The portrait presents Ferdinando II de' Medici, who would later become the Grand Duke of Tuscany, as a young boy. His elaborate armor, ruff collar, and the sword he rests his hand upon are symbols of his aristocratic lineage and the martial expectations placed upon him. The presence of a servant holding a feathered hat and cloak further underscores his elevated social standing and the luxurious environment of the Medici court.
Artist & collection
- Catarina de' Medici (1593-1629)
Philipp III., König von Spanien als Feldherr (Werkstatt)
Portrait of an unknown woman aged 28 year
Bildnis der Erzherzogin Maria Anna (Kopie nach)
Portrait of an unknown Genoese woman, 1622-1623
Portrait of a Young Lady
Portrait of a Young Lady
Portrait of Elisabeth Renata von Lothringen, wife of Maximilians I. von Bayern
Portrait of a lady in a rich costume leaning on the armchair
Henriette von Lothringen (1605-1660)
Anne Wortley, Later Lady Morton
Ferdinand II of Habsburg as a young man
