Portrait of a Gentleman

The style of this portrait marks the transition between the archaic style introduced in Madrid by Anthonis Mor during the mid-16th century and the arrival of the new manner of Vel�zquez, who succeeded Villandrando as court painter following the artist’s premature death in Madrid by December 1622.

This painting represents a gentleman, three-quarter length, wearing a black doublet and hose, with a grey tunic and white ruff, holding his sword and gloves, standing beside a table. The precise identification of the sitter has yet to be established. It has been suggested that he might be identifiable with a nephew of Philip III, one of the sons of Charles Emanuel, Duke of Savoy.