# Francesco Sforza

**Unknown artist**  
probably c. 1480/1500  
oil on panel  
painted surface: 69.5 x 59.5 cm (27 3/8 x 23 7/16 in.) overall (with backing, collar, and cradle): 72.4 x 62.1 cm (28 1/2 x 24 7/16 in.) framed: 103.5 x 92.7 x 8.9 cm (40 3/4 x 36 1/2 x 3 1/2 in.)

Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington, 1942.9.4. [The museum's record](https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.1141.html).

## About this work

An unrecorded North Italian artist painted this (probably c. 1480/1500). It is now at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC.

### What you’re looking at

This painting shows an upper-body portrait of a man in a three-quarter view, turned to the left. He has a prominent double chin, a slightly furrowed brow, thin lips, and a serious expression. He has pale yellow skin and short, dark hair, and he wears a large, red hat. He is clad in silver armor with red straps on his shoulder and chest. The background is a simple, dark green color.

_Description from the National Gallery of Art._

### How it was made

- **Oil on panel.** Oil paint on prepared wooden boards, usually oak in the north and poplar in Italy. The rigid, smooth surface suits fine detail and thin, glowing glazes.
- **Oil paint.** Pigment ground in a drying oil, usually linseed. It dries slowly, so painters could blend on the canvas, build up thin translucent glazes, and rework a picture over weeks. Canvas replaced wooden panels in the 1500s because it is lighter and can be rolled.

## Facts

- Type: Painting
- Culture: North Italian
- Real size: about 27 × 23 in (70 × 60 cm). The 20 × 30 in print is close to life size.
- Century: 15th century
- Movement: [Renaissance](https://www.ochreeditions.com/movements/renaissance)
- Subjects: male, Sforza, Francesco I
- Colour: brown
- Rights: public domain (CC0 1.0); free to use for any purpose.

## Get it

- Free download, full resolution: https://img.ochreeditions.com/m/1321.jpg?dl=1
- Image: https://img.ochreeditions.com/a/1321/1920.jpg
- Giclée reproduction on Hahnemühle Photo Rag: 8 × 10 in $28; 11 × 14 in $38; 12 × 16 in $42; 16 × 20 in $56; 18 × 24 in $68; 20 × 30 in $86; 24 × 36 in $108
- Framed reproduction: 8 × 10 in $78; 11 × 14 in $98; 12 × 16 in $108; 16 × 20 in $138; 18 × 24 in $164; 20 × 30 in $208; 24 × 36 in $258
- Canvas reproduction: 8 × 10 in $58; 11 × 14 in $72; 12 × 16 in $79; 16 × 20 in $98; 18 × 24 in $118; 20 × 30 in $148
- Print-ready file: 8 × 10 in $2; 11 × 14 in $2; 12 × 16 in $3; 16 × 20 in $3; 18 × 24 in $3; 20 × 30 in $5; 24 × 36 in $5

Sizes stop where the museum's file would print below 150 pixels per inch. Everything sold is a reproduction, made to order. [Order a print](https://www.ochreeditions.com/art/francesco-sforza-nga-1141).