Portrait of Francesco d'Este, Rogier van der Weyden, oil on wood panel, 29.8 cm × 20.3 cm. Metropolitan Museum of Art
Portrait of Francesco d'Este is a panel painting by the Netherlandish painter Rogier van der Weyden dating to about 1460. The subject of the portrait, Francesco d'Este (c. 1430 - after 1475), was the illegitimate son of Leonello d'Este, an Italian patron of Rogier. The portrait was painted when the sitter was about 30 years old.
Here he is shown holding a hammer, at the time a symbol of authority, although its exact significance, and that of the ring held between his fingers, is unknown. It is possible that they may have been jousting prizes. The ring had been painted out and was only discovered in 1934 when the painting was cleaned.
If you have any comment about this portrait painting, welcome to send us by email: leadartportrait@gmail.com, and we will add them here.