Portrait of Umberto I of Savoy

The three-quarter portrait of King Umberto I of Savoy was made by the Prato painter Alessandro Franchi in 1879. With his large, long, characteristic mustache, the sovereign stands with his gaze directed towards the viewer. He wears the high black and grey uniform, adorned with medals and brooches. He rests his hands, which also hold white gloves, on the cutlass hilt. Almost as if he was caught in a pose that enhanced his fame, confident of his own abilities and strengths. It is located in an interior with classical architecture and golden damask upholstery. Immediately adjacent to the sovereign on the right side of the painting is a small table covered in a crimson drape, with a beautiful helmet adorned with white plumes.
The canvas, originally placed in the Council Hall of the Town Hall, after remaining in the museum’s warehouses for about 70 years, returns to be visible to the public. This closes the circuit of four portraits of illustrious men, whose images represent the historical eras to which each floor of the palace is dedicated. This artwork, on the top floor, introduces us to the collection of the 19th and 20th centuries.