Portrait of Marsilio Cassotti and His Bride Faustina facts for kids
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The Portrait of Marsilio Cassotti and His Bride Faustina is a special painting created in 1523. It was made by a famous Italian artist named Lorenzo Lotto. This artwork is now kept in the Prado Museum in Madrid, Spain. It is signed by the artist and shows the year it was finished: "L. Lotus Pictor / 1523". This painting is very important because it is the first known portrait in Italy that shows a couple getting married. It was inspired by similar artworks from Germany and the Netherlands.
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About the Painting
This painting is made with oil paints on a wooden panel. It shows Marsilio Cassotti and his bride, Faustina, at the moment they are getting married. The groom is placing a ring on the bride's finger.
What the Couple Wears
The bride, Faustina, wears a beautiful red dress. This dress is similar to one seen in another of Lotto's paintings, Portrait of Lucina Brembati. She also wears two necklaces. One is made of pearls, which often symbolized her strong connection to her husband. The other necklace is made of gold.
Symbols in the Artwork
Behind the happy couple, there is a small figure of Cupid. Cupid is a Roman god often shown as a winged child, representing love. In this painting, Cupid is placing a yoke on the couple's shoulders. A yoke is a wooden bar used to connect two animals, like oxen, so they can work together. Here, the yoke is a symbol of the strong bond of marriage. It also represents the good qualities and effort needed to keep a new marriage strong and happy.
History of the Artwork
Lorenzo Lotto, the artist, even wrote a note about this painting. In his note, he described the couple's "silk clothes, caps, and necklaces." He also mentioned the original price for the painting, which was 30 denari. This price was later lowered to 20 denari.
Who Commissioned the Painting
The painting was asked for, or "commissioned," by Marsilio Cassotti's father. This means he paid Lotto to create the artwork for his son's wedding. The painting stayed with the Cassotti family for a long time.
Journey to Spain
Later, possibly in the 1600s, the painting was taken to Spain. It was listed in a catalog of artworks at a royal palace called the Alcázar in 1666. Eventually, in the 1800s, it found its current home in the Prado Museum.
See also
In Spanish: Micer Marsilio Cassotti y su esposa Faustina para niños
