Portrait of Ferdinando II de' Medici
by SUSTERMANS, Justus, Oil on canvas, 43 x 33 cm
Together with another painting, this is a rare and unusual scientific record of the illness that afflicted the young Ferdinando II in 1626 at the age of 16, when he was not yet Grand Duke. The paintings represent two successive phases of smallpox, on the seventh and ninth day. The picture shown here represents the ninth day when the rash erupted fully. At the time smallpox was a serious and often mortal illness. However, Ferdinando managed to survive.