Portrait of Eleonora di Toledo with her son Giovanni

This precious painting, documented by Vasari, depicts the Dutchess of Florence, Eleonora di Toledo, with her little son Giovanni. It was painted in 1545 by Bronzino, who was a student of Pontormo and the court portrait artist of the Medici. In spite of the official nature of the portrait, seen through the very refined clothing and the splendor of the jewelry, Bronzino joins the figures of the mother and child in an affectionate pose creating one of the masterpieces of European Portraiture of the 16th century. The painting has been in the Tribune since 1620.