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SILVER Seller in Venezia, Italy
Florentine painter of the 17th century Portrait of Giovanni by Antonio Caligiani Oil on canvas, cm. 135×99 The painting portrays Giovanni di Antonio Caligiani, a member of an ancient Florentine family, in bright red clothes that underline his status and public dignity. The clothing, with headdress and cloak with wide sleeves edged in light fur, is typical of certain civil magistracies or important public offices in seventeenth-century Florence; at the same time, red could recall important functions (not necessarily ecclesiastical, but of an institutional or council nature). The figure is represented in half-length, turned three-quarters towards the viewer, with a firm and serious gaze, almost as if to affirm one's authority. At the bottom left, on the dark background, the coat of arms of the Caligiani family stands out, a heraldic mark that helps to identify the subject and confirm belonging to an important lineage in the Florentine noble fabric. The neutral and dark background focuses attention on the depicted figure, highlighting the details of the clothing and the physiognomy of the face. The brushstroke appears quite compact and smooth, especially in the rendering of the details of the face and hands, while the red fabric is treated with skilful plays of light and shadow which create soft folds and well-defined volumes. Giovanni di Antonio Caligiani was born in Florence on 28 November 1404, son of Antonio di Iacopo and Taddea di Piero degli Albizzi. He became one of the main advisors of Cosimo and Lorenzo de’ Medici and played a prominent role in Florentine public life from 1430 to his death. He held numerous institutional positions: prior and standard bearer of Justice, mayor of Città di Castello, vicar of Valdelsa, captain in Volterra and Poppi, mayor in Pistoia, vicar in Valdivievole.
ID: 73557-1760107666-133322
