New work for Palazzo Spinola: a portrait of Anton Giulio Brignole-Sale, the Genoese spendthrift, painted by Rigaud

The National Gallery of Palazzo Spinola today presents its latest acquisition: it is the portrait of Anton Julius II Brignole-Sale (Genoa, 1673 - 1710) painted by the great French painter Hyacinthe Rigaud (Perpignan, 1659 - Paris, 1743), recently acquired by the Ministry of Culture specifically for the Genoese museum’s collections.

The canvas, which is signed and dated (“Hyacinthe Rigaud f. à Paris / 1704”), depicts the illustrious member of the Brignole-Sale family as well as an important ambassador of the Republic of Genoa, son of Giovanni Francesco I, who in 1704 was entrusted with the task of extraordinary envoy of the Republic to negotiate with Louis XIV the liberation of some Piedmontese officers whom the Duke D’Oria had taken prisoner. In his account book, Rigaud noted, at the year 1704, the execution of this effigy requested by “Mr le marquis Brignoly, envoyé de Gênes” (“Mr le marquis Brignole, ambassador of Genoa”), not neglecting to indicate the compensation obtained, amounting to 300 pounds. This is the highest price paid by a Genoese for a portrait painted by the famous “Peintre du Roy.” The nobleman commissioned, in fact, an innovative and more committed image than, for example, a simpler repertory half-bust, such as the one Rigaud painted for Stefano Gentile in 1709, which has also come to the collections of the National Gallery of Liguria.

Anton Julius II led a luxurious life, with a particularly high tenor that allowed him to spare no expense so that he could afford all kinds of comforts. Particularly representative is the lapidary phrase written about it by his father: “he spends without knowing what he spends” (this is about the bills to be paid for his wedding to Isabella Brignole, celebrated in 1694, or the expenses related to a carriage specially made to travel to Paris, worth 4143 lire, but one could also mention the habit of being cheered during his travels by the services of the cook and his personal servant).

The new work will be presented today, Friday, September 21, 2018, ahead of the European Heritage Days (September 22-23, 2018), by Antonio Tarasco, Director of Service I - Museum Collections of the General Directorate for Museums of the Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities, Serena Bertolucci, Director of the Royal Palace and Polo Museale della Liguria, and Gianluca Zanelli, Director of the National Gallery of Liguria at Palazzo Spinola.

New work for Palazzo Spinola: a portrait of Anton Giulio Brignole-Sale, the Genoese spendthrift, painted by Rigaud

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