Francesco II Gonzaga, Fourth Marquis of Mantua

Executed in 1477, this portrait exemplifies the portrait tradition that Baldassare Estense contributed to within the Early Renaissance. Painted during the flourishing of the Early Renaissance, the work balances individual likeness with the idealized presentation expected by fifteenth-century patrons. By the 1480s and 1490s, the printing press was spreading artistic ideas across Europe with unprecedented speed, while the discovery of the New World was expanding European horizons.

Tempera technique, reflecting earlier traditions, the portrait demonstrates Baldassare Estense's command of skilled technique and careful observation. The careful modeling of the face reveals close study of the sitter's physiognomy, while the treatment of costume and setting projects appropriate social standing.