3-041-523 - Heritage Art/Heritage Images

Portrait of Napoleone Orsini II, about 1619. Additional Info: A portrait of a man dressed in armor fills the center of this tondo. Depicted in three-quarter view, his face is deeply lined, a sign of aging and experiences lived. He is identified by an inscription as Napoleone Orsini II, Lord of Bracciano and standard-bearer of the Catholic Church. The border is embellished with floral motifs, military trophies, the papal regalia of the crossed keys and papal crown, and the sitter's personal motto In hostes. The portrait relates to a set of engravings that illustrates a manuscript entitled 'Elogii di cento e più personaggi illustri di casa Orsina' (Archivio Storico Capitolano, Rome). Recounting the history of the Orsini family up to ca. 1460-70, the text and the accompanying prints were created by a little-known artist of German origin called Giovanni Campagna.