Portrait of Carla Francetti Frova

Carla Francetti widow of Frova (1839 -1909) appointed heir of her property the Ophthalmic Institute, providing a legacy of 50,000 lire in favour of the Ospedale Maggiore. The execution of the portrait is entrusted to Ambrogio Alciati who, using a photograph as a model, depicts the benefactor in old age, dressed in a large black dress that alludes to her widowhood. This is the first of the four portraits that the artist performs for the Quadreria Ospedaliera.