Portrait of Pier Maria Rossi di San Secondo facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Portrait of Pier Maria Rossi di San Secondo |
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| Artist | Parmigianino |
| Year | c. 1535–1538 |
| Medium | Oil on canvas |
| Dimensions | 133 cm × 98 cm (52 in × 39 in) |
| Location | Museo del Prado, Madrid |
The Portrait of Pier Maria Rossi di San Secondo is a famous painting by an Italian artist named Parmigianino. He painted it between 1535 and 1539. Today, you can see this artwork at the Museo del Prado in Madrid, Spain. The painting shows Pier Maria Rossi, who was a Count. This portrait was meant to go with another painting of his wife and children, called Portrait of Camilla Gonzaga and Her Three Sons.
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How We Know About This Painting
This painting was first mentioned in a list of artworks in 1686. This list was for the Royal Alcazar of Madrid, a royal palace. It was called the portrait of count of San Sigundo. This note helped people figure out that the person in the painting was Pier Maria III de' Rossi.
When the Painting Arrived in Spain
The painting came to Spain in 1664. This happened after King Philip IV of Spain helped the Rossi family. They were having a disagreement with another powerful family, the Farnese, over some land.
Dating the Artwork
Experts believe Parmigianino painted this portrait between 1535 and 1539. They figured this out by looking at Pier Maria's age in the painting. He was born in 1508. Also, an art historian named Giorgio Vasari wrote about Parmigianino. He said the artist stayed with Pier Maria during those years.
What the Painting Shows
The painting shows Count Pier Maria Rossi standing. Behind him is a fancy background made of damask cloth. This is a special fabric with patterns woven into it.
The Count's Clothes and Pose
Pier Maria wears a long, black jacket lined with fur. He also has a black vest, a white shirt, and white pants. His pants have a padded codpiece, which was a common fashion detail back then. His serious pose and his hand on his sword show that he was a military man. He looks to the right, as if he is looking at the portrait of his wife.
Symbols in the Painting
On the right side of the painting, you can see a landscape. It has a city with many grand buildings, possibly Rome. Other objects in the painting tell us about the Count's life and interests. There is a statue of Mars, who was the Roman god of war. This shows his military side. There is also an old stone carving, called a bas-relief. This suggests he liked collecting ancient art.
Some books are also shown, hinting at his love for reading and writing. He even wrote letters to a famous poet named Pietro Aretino. One of the books has the word "Imperio" written on it. This word means "empire." It refers to Pier Maria's work with Emperor Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor when the painting was made.
See also
In Spanish: Retrato de Pier Maria Rossi di San Secondo para niños
