Portrait of Agostino Pallavicini

Object Details

Title:

Portrait of Agostino Pallavicini

Artist/Maker:

Anthony van Dyck (Flemish, 1599 - 1641)

Culture:

Flemish

Date:

about 1621

Medium:

Oil on canvas

Object Number:

68.PA.2

Dimensions:

216.2 × 141 cm (85 1/8 × 55 1/2 in.)

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Agostino Pallavicini, a member of the Genoese branch of the Pallavicini family and the future doge of Genoa, sits enveloped by the sumptuous, flowing red robes worn in his role as ambassador to the pope. The wide expanse of fabric, spectacularly rendered, seems to have a life of its own and almost threatens to take over the painting. The luxurious swirl of cloth, its brilliant sheen, and the way it glimmers and reflects light display Anthony van Dyck's virtuosity as a painter. The family coat of arms seen on the drapery behind the sitter at the left, along with other documented portraits, firmly establishes Pallavicini's identity.

In 1621, Van Dyck left Antwerp and traveled to Italy, where he stayed for five years, viewing large private collections of Italian paintings and painting various portraits. This was one of the first paintings he made in Italy, painted in 1621 to commemorate the sitter's service as an ambassador to the newly elected Pope Gregory XV.

Provenance
about 1621 -

Agostino Pallavicini, died 1649, by inheritance to Ansaldo Pallavincini.

-

Ansaldo Pallavicini, by inheritance to Anna Maria Pallavicini.

-

Anna Maria Pallavicini, died 1732, by inheritance to Paolo Francesco Doria.

- 1732

Paolo Francesco Doria, died 1732, by inheritance to Maddelena Doria.

-

Maddelena Doria, died 1824, by inheritance to Paolo Francesco Spinola.

- 1824

Paolo Francesco Spinola, died 1824, by inheritance to Giacomo Spinola di Luccoli.

-

Giacomo Spinola di Luccoli

1841 -

Andrew Wilson, sold to Joseph Hawley.

-

Sir Joseph Henry Hawley, third Bart., 1814 - 1875, by inheritance to Henry James Hawley.

by 1879 -

Sir Henry James Hawley, fourth Bart., 1815 - 1898
Source: Painting was in the collection of Sir Henry Hawley in 1879 when it was lent to the Royal Academy exhibiton of that year [Fredericksen, Burton B. Catalogue of the Paintings in the J. Paul Getty Museum (Malibu: J. Paul Getty Museum, 1972, pp. 72-73].

- 1887

Martin H. Colnaghi, 1821 - 1908, sold to Arthur Pemberton Heywood-Lonsdale.

1887 - 1897

Arthur Pemberton Heywood-Lonsdale, died 1897, by inheritance to Henry Heywood-Lonsdale, 1897.

1897 - 1930

Lt. Col. Henry Heywood-Lonsdale, died 1930, by inheritance to A. Heywood-Lonsdale, 1930.

1930 - 1968

Lt. Col. Arthur Heywood-Lonsdale, 1900 - 1976, sold through Thomas Agnew & Sons, Ltd. (London, England) to the J. Paul Getty Museum, 1968.

Exhibitions
Exhibition of Works by the Old Masters and by Deceased Masters of the British School (January 5 to March 13, 1880)
  • Royal Academy of Arts (London), January 5 to March 13, 1880
Exhibition of works by Van Dyck (1599-1641) (January 1 to March 10, 1900)
  • Royal Academy of Arts (London), January 1 to March 10, 1900
Walker Art Gallery (1959)
  • Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool, 1959
The J. Paul Getty Collection (June 29 to September 3, 1972)
  • The Minneapolis Institute of Art (Minneapolis), June 29 to September 3, 1972
Anthony van Dyck: Paintings in the Grand Manner (November 11, 1990 to February 24, 1991)
  • National Gallery of Art (Washington, D.C.), November 11, 1990 to February 24, 1991
Genova Nell'etá Barocca / Genova in the Baroque Age (May 2 to November 9, 1992)
  • Galleria Nazionale di Palazzo Spinola (Genoa), May 2 to July 26, 1992
Van Dyck (May 15 to December 10, 1999)
  • Koninklijk Museum voor Schone Kunsten Antwerpen (Antwerp), May 15 to August 15, 1999
  • Royal Academy of Arts (London), September 11 to December 10, 1999
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