Circle of Agnolo Bronzino

Alessandro de' Medici, called 'il Moro', ruled Florence between 1530-37, after the recently reinstalled Republic had been overwhelmed, following a lengthy siege. He became the first hereditary Duke of Florence in 1532. Once recognised as the son of Lorenzo II de' Medici, Alessandro is now thought to have been the illegitimate son of Giulio de' Medici (later Pope Clement VII), and nephew of Lorenzo de' Medici, 'il Magnifico'.

The present portrait would appear to be a derivation of the portrait of Alessandro from the series of miniatures (measuring c. 15 by 12 cm., each) painted by Bronzino and his workshop, dating between 1555-65, now in the Museo Mediceo, which depict members of the Medici household.¹

1. E. Baccheschi, L'opera completa del Bronzino, Milan 1973, p. 108, cat. no. 145.