The portrait of ferdinando ii de' medici, grand duke of tuscany, is part of the so-called "serie aulica" (or "of the most serene princes"), a collection of portraits of the most important members of the house of medici. The work is mentioned for the first time together with the matching portrait of ferdinando's wife, vittoria della rovere, inside the uffizi gallery in 1659, when the two paintings are taken away to be copied. A letter, written on 1° july 1654 by medicean cloakroom attendant zanobi betti to cardinal carlo de' medici, reports that ferdinando's portrait was completed and a copy was sent to rome to ask an opinion. That's why ferdinando and vittoria's portraits are dated to 1653/54. Other two copies of grand dukes' portraits were sent to oliver cromwell in 1655. On 1672 sustermans retouched the painting, removing a flashy feathered hat, judged inappropriated for a so formal portrait (the hat is still visible in some previous copies). Date: between 1653 and 1654. Dimensions: 144 x 119 cm. Medium: oil. Collection: Uffizi Gallery. Sustermans, Justus - Official portrait of Ferdinando II de' Medici as Grand Duke of Tuscany
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