Ranuccio farnese

(1542; Washington, National Gallery)

   Painted by Titian, this work depicts the grandson of Pope Paul III at the age of 12. A letter written in 1542 by the humanist Gian Francesco Leoni to Cardinal Alessandro Farnese, the sitter's brother, reports that the portrait was rendered as a gift to the boy's mother, Girolama Orsini, to commemorate his appointment as prior of San Giovanni dei Forlani, Venice, a property owned by the Order of the Knights of Malta. Ranuccio's elaborate costume, in fact, includes the insignia of the order emblazoned on his black cloak. The boy's innocent facial expression provides a stark contrast to the stiff silk attire, codpiece, and sword he is sporting. The favors bestowed upon Ranuccio continued after Titian painted the portrait. In 1545, he was made cardinal, deacon of S. Lucia in Silice in the following year, legate to Piceno and Ancona in 1546-1547, bishop of Farfa and San Salvatore Maggiore in 1547-1563, legate to Viterbo in 1551, and governor of Montefiascone in 1560. These represent only a handful of the many benefices bestowed upon him. Ranuccio presents a classic example of the rampant nepotism that then permeated the papal court.