Anthony van Dyck Thomas Francois de Savoie, Prince de Carignan (Thomas Francis, Prince of Carignano), c. 1645; A wonderfully detailed and charismatic portrait, this exquisite work illustrates the technical mastery and artistic vision of Van Dyck. Thomas Francois de Savoie, Prince de Carignan's stately yet approachable expression reflects Van Dyck's refined ability to comfort and relax his subjects, resulting in a realistic and acute portrait. Thomas Francois de Savoie was an Italian military commander and the founder of the Savoy-Carignano branch of the House of Savoy which reigned as kings of Sardinia from 1831-1861 and as the kings of Italy from 1861 until the dynasty's fall in 1946. Van Dyck depicts Thomas Francois in armor, sword sheathed at his side. He stands tall and proud, the victor of many battles. Francois' hands, in particular, appear large in comparison to his body, perhaps representing his might on the battlefield. Van Dyck places his subject against the background of a clouded sky, perhaps hinting at the tumult that follows Francois when he is on the war path.

This portrait is a Mauquoy-Hendrickx State IV (of IV) from the Giles Hendrickx edition, engraved by Paulus Pontius (Antwerp, 1603 - Antwerp, 1658) in collaboration with Anthony van Dyck (Antwerp, 1559 - London, 1641) as part of his Iconographie series of engraved portraits of famous people at the time. The plate has been marked in the lower center of the plate "Ant. Van Dyck pinxit," and in the lower left "Paul Pontius fculpit" and in the lower right of the plate "Cum privilegio." Beneath the engraved portrait is the inscription: SERENISSMVS PRINC. FRANCISVS. THOMAS. A. SABAVDIA PRINC. | CARIGNANI. ETC. ARMOR. ET. EXERCIT. CATH.? MAI.TIS IN. BELG. | PR?FECT. ET. GVBERNAT. GENERAL. This piece is printed on a fine paper with 2 partial unidentified watermarks.

Documented and Illustrated in:

1) Mauquoy-Hendrickx. L'Iconographie d'Antoine Van Dyck: Catalogue Raisonne I. Bruxelles: Bibliotheque Royale Albert I, 1991. Listed as catalogue no. 63 on pg. 142-143.

2) Mauquoy-Hendrickx. L'Iconographie d'Antoine Van Dyck: Catalogue Raisonne II. Bruxelles: Bibliotheque Royale Albert I, 1991. Illustrated as catalogue no. 63 on pg. 41.

3) A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany this work.

About the Framing:

Anthony van Dyck Thomas Francois de Savoie, Prince de Carignan (Thomas Francis, Prince of Carignano), c. 1645 is framed to archival museum grade conservation standards, this piece is framed in a complementary moulding with silk mats and optical grade Plexiglas.