After nearly 400 years Emmanuel Philibert, Prince of Oneglia, has been reunited with his armour – and his red socks.
Xavier F. Salomon, Arturo and Holly Melosi Chief Curator at Dulwich Picture Gallery explains.
‘Dulwich Picture Gallery’s portrait of Emmanuel Philibert of Savoy by Van Dyck, painted in 1624 in Sicily, is currently on show at the National Gallery of Art in Washington for the exhibition ‘The Art of Power: Royal Armour and Portraits from Imperial Spain‘ (ends 1 November).
The armour shown in the portrait was made when he was 18, but the comparison still proves that Emmanuel was not exactly a towering giant.
This will give you a sneak preview of what is to come. The armour will travel to DPG in 2012 for our own ‘Van Dyck in Sicily’ exhibition.
If you are in the States in the next three months, do go and see the exhibition!’
Ed. The portrait tells a very sad story – superstition, abandoned wedding, early death… All will be revealed next week.
I can’t be sure about the socks. Can someone let readers know why they appear under the armour in Washington.
