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Notes
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The unknown man in this half-length portrait proudly displays an eight-pointed silver cross suspended from a black cord round his neck, which identifies him as a Knight of the Order of Saint John. His left hand clasps a sword. The pose points to the twin aims of the Order: religious and military strength. The portrait is over life size, making the panel larger than most of Rosso’s other portraits. The Knights of Saint John were a religious order formed in the eleventh century to look after injured crusaders. Having been expelled from Rhodes by the Ottoman Turks, the Order arrived in Rome in 1523. Rosso moved to Rome in late 1523 and it seems plausible that it was here that he met the knight. The costume is not ceremonial, but more sombre ‘outdoor’ clothing.
Title
A Knight of Saint John
Date
about 1528-30
Medium
Oil on poplar
Measurements
H 96.8 x W 76.2 cm
Accession number
NG932
Acquisition method
Wynn Ellis Bequest, 1876
Work type
Painting
