The portrait of Countess Palatine Dorothea Sophie of Neuburg

The painting portrays Dorotea Sophia of Neoburg, daughter of the Palatine Elector of the Rhine. She became wife of Ranuccio II Farnese's eldest son, Odoardo, who died prematurely. Only after marrying another Farnese, Francesco, in 1695, she became also Duchess of Parma. The portrait was painted by the Genoese painter Giovanni Maria delle Piane, known as Molinaretto, an official court portraitist. The duchess, portrayed in old age, is wearing a rich black velvet dress - the color of mourning - enriched with gold, diamonds and pearl fixed on the bodice, on the shoulder and on the sleeves. The sovereign rank of the portrayed is suggested by the semi-pillars in the background, the large crimson drape and the ermine lining the dress. Perhaps the painting was made during the winter months, just before the death of Duke Francesco (February 26, 1727). Dorotea Sofia's strong and independent spirit shines through the monumentality of the figure and the firm and strong-willed gaze, but also thorugh the researched pose of the hands: the right one is holding a closed fan, while the left one i sholding the wide skirt.