Cristofano di Papi Dell'altissimo, Portrait of Dante Alighieri, 1600, Oil on Board, Framed

Florentine School of the 16th Century
Cristofano di Papi dell'Altissimo (Florence 1525 – Florence 1605) workshop

Portrait of Dante Alighieri (Florence 1265 – Ravenna 1321)

Oil on panel, 58 x 45 cm.
Framed, 84 x 70 cm.

We present this exquisite painting, one of the rare portraits of Dante Alighieri (Florence 1265 – Ravenna 1321) of excellent execution. It is included in the series of posthumous portraits that the greatest Renaissance authors dedicated to the Supreme Poet, attesting to his acclaimed and immortal fame.

Among the earliest depictions of Dante are Giotto's fresco of Paradise from 1332-1337 (Cappella del Podestà, Palazzo Bargello, Florence), the portrait of Dante with the Divine Comedy in Domenico di Michelino's fresco from 1465 (Santa Maria del Fiore, Florence), and Sandro Botticelli's profile portrait of the poet from around 1495 (Private collection), today one of the most famous and widespread depictions of the poet.

Returning to our work, we can fully integrate it into the traditional iconography of his profile, which has contributed to his recognizability to the present day: the poet is immortalized with the characteristic red cape and hat, usually worn by Florentine diplomats, his elongated, angular face with a hooked nose, and a laurel wreath, the so-called "crown of poets."

Stylistically, we are inclined to attribute it to an artist active in Florence around 1550, trained or active in the prolific workshop of Cristofano di Papi dell'Altissimo (1530-1605), a pupil of Bronzino and then Pontormo, from whom he inherited his passion for portraiture, as well as his stylistic approach.

The painter worked for the Medici family, and in particular created for Cosimo I a collection of approximately 500 portraits of illustrious men, known as the "Jovian Series" (Uffizi Gallery, now in the upper part of the Eastern Corridor), which, among others, included that of our poet.

His fame as a portraitist subsequently grew to such an extent that the workshop frequently produced versions of the same subject, with countless variations.

In our beautiful work, for example, Dante is depicted half-length, his face and gaze turned to the left, his expression serious but intense, and facial features that immediately evoke the portraiture of early Florentine Mannerism.

We know of several replicas/copies, similar in size and composition. Comparable versions from the early 16th century include:
- Musée Condé, Chantilly, Portrait of Dante, 16th-century Florentine School, attributed to Bachiacca
- Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence, Portrait of Dante, 16th-century Florentine School, previously attributed to Perugino
- Musei Civici di Como, Palazzo Volpi, Portrait of Dante, 16th-century Florentine School
- Van Diemen-Lilienfeld Galleries, New York
- Yale University Art Gallery New Haven (Connecticut, USA)
Although quite rare, we can find some similar works at international auctions:
- Dorotheum, Vienna (April 24, 2018, lot 14)
- Dorotheum, Vienna (April 20, 2019, lot 317)
- Sothebys, New York (January 30, 2019)

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

The work being sold is beautifully framed and comes with a certificate of authenticity and guarantee.