Portrait of Francesco I de' Medici

With great intensity, Bernardo Buontalenti depicted Francesco I, the eldest son of the Grand Duke of Tuscany Cosimo I, in this canvas. The young man, full-length, is sitting and resting his hand on his chest. He is elegantly dressed, Spanish-style clothes, and with his other hand holds a sword, one of the emblems of power in the painting, such as a statuette placed on the table next to him, bearing the coat of arms of the Municipality of Prato, in reference to his new role as regent. A scepter and crown are also placed on the table.
The painting bears the date of 1570, the pivotal moment of the young prince’s rise to power and the time when his famous Studiolo was decorated in Palazzo Vecchio in Florence. The portrait was commissioned to Bernardo Buontalenti, as attested by some archival documents. This is also supported by the initials "B. B. F." on the left of the artwork which have been interpreted as B(ernardo) B(uontalenti) F(ecit). In the past, these letters had been deciphered as “TO. S. F.” and associated with the artist Maso da San Friano. It is the elegance of the portrait, evident in particular in the mastery of the handwork and in the ability to penetrate deeply into the psychology of the subject, that indicates the artist's particular sensitivity.