Andrea Doria
by STIMMER, Tobias, Woodcut, 162 x 153 mm
The present woodcut is from Elogia virorum bellica virtute illustrium (Tributes to the Military Virtues of Illustrious Men). This book of 391 pages was published in Basel by Pietro Perna in 1575. It contains Tobias Stimmer’s woodcuts after Paolo Giovio’s vast collection of portraits as illustrations for the luxurious new edition of the book.
Stimmer’s present woodcut shows Andrea Doria, the great naval commander, holding an oar. It is based on Bronzino’s painting, the oar was changed to a trident at some point after Stimmer copied the portrait. The border to Stimmer’s illustration shows attributes of fortitude.