BOLOGNESE SCHOOL, 16TH CENTURY | PORTRAIT OF A KNIGHT OF MALTA, FULL LENGTH, IN ARMOR STANDING BESIDE A TABLE WITH HIS HELMET AND STANDARD, BEFORE A WINDOW

This portrait shows stylistic affinities with Bolognese portraiture of the late 16th century, such as the works of Lavinia Fontana (1552 - 1614). The precise rendering of the facial features compared to the loose brushwork of the distant landscape and the sitter's hand and flag suggest that a master painter executed the face based on a life study, while studio assistants painted the body and background.