Gian Galeazzo Sforza, the sixth Duke of Milan
First half of the XVII century. Oil on canvas.On display elsewhere
This painting was part of a series of portraits of the Dukes of Milan from the Visconti and Sforza families, intended for an antechamber of the Buen Retiro Palace. This perpetuated the memory of their military victories, serving to legitimise King Philip IV, who also held the duchy.
Three paintings from this series are preserved in the Prado Museum (P000574, P003568). With a clear propaganda message, the portrait shows Sforza in three-quarter profile, pensively, revealing his symbols of power: his armour, medal, baton of command and the hilt of his sword, which seems to fade into the lower right-hand corner. The armour stands out against the neutral background thanks to an optical effect created by the shine that gives it shape and curvature, elements common to the entire series.
According to Elías Tormo, these canvases are most likely 17th-century works, copies of an earlier series of portraits of those who preceded the kings of Spain in the Duchy of Milan.
