Marchioness Geronima Spinola on fine Amalfi paper

This imposing portrait of Marchioness Geronima Spinola was painted by Anthony van Dyck between 1624 and 1626, during his Italian sojourn, when the young Flemish master had become the most sought-after portrait painter among the Genoese aristocracy. The work is a masterpiece of mature Baroque: the almost life-size figure emerges from a severe architectural background, entirely enveloped in a black widow's cloak, while the pale face, framed by the refined lace collar, concentrates all the light and the viewer's attention.

Van Dyck presents the Marchioness as an icon of nobility and decorum, blending austerity and splendor: the deep black of her dress amplifies the fairness of her complexion, the bright red fan, held in her fingers, introduces a note of controlled luxury, and her upright, slightly three-quarter posture gives the figure a theatrical but measured elegance. This portrait, intended to celebrate the rank and dignity of one of the great ladies of 17th-century Genoa, is perfect for a collector seeking a female image of extraordinary stage presence, capable of dominating a space as it once did in the aristocratic Ligurian residences.

Feel the history beneath your fingers