Lot 32: Attributed to Giovanna Garzoni (Ascoli 1600-1670 Rome)

Portrait of the Grand Duchess Vittoria della Rovere as Judith, in a shell surrounded by a garland of tulips, carnations, and other flowers
bodycolour on vellum
11 1/2 x 15 3/4 in. (285 x 403 mm.) irregular borders

Vittoria della Rovere (1621-1694), daughter of Federico Ubaldo della Rovere, married Grand Duke Ferdinand II de' Medici unofficially in 1634 and officially three years later. Her portrait was painted in various guises: for example Justus Sustermans showed her as Flora in a painting in Prato, as the vestal Tuccia in the Pitti Palace and as Saint Margaret.
Numerous still lifes by Garzoni in bodycolour on vellum are listed in the 1692 inventory of Vittoria's favourite residence, the Medici villa at Poggio Imperiale. Although still lifes were Garzoni's speciality, figure drawings in bodycolour are known, for example a portrait of Leopoldo de' Medici in the Uffizi (G. Casale, Gli Incanti dell'Iride, San Severino Marche, 1996, no. 11).

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