There are currently not many known portraits of Rinaldo d’Este; two paintings of modest artistic importance have recently appeared at international auctions. In this portrait belonging to the Banco BPM Group and coming from the Nannini collection, the hand of the painter Benedetto Gennari, Guercino’s nephew, has been recognised, probably with some intervention from his workshop. When Francesco II died without an heir (1694), Rinaldo was called upon to save the succession of the House of Este by stripping himself of his cardinal’s purple and assuming the title of Duke; the painting, therefore, should be subsequent to this event.
Rinaldo is depicted in three-quarter profile with his face turned to the right and his gaze is directed towards the observer. The Duke wears very dark armour illuminated only by two metallic flashes. The equally dark background makes the whole composition marked by dark tones and, by contrast, the face and the striking gorget of lace embellished with a large red bow with a stone stand out more clearly. As the fashion of the time dictated, Rinaldo wears a large curly black wig that makes his face appear tapered and petite, characterised by his prominent nose and fine moustache; his gaze, though high and slightly frowning, shows no particular personality.
