Portret van Maximiliaan Sforza 1585 - 1642

Agostino Carracci made this portrait of Maximiliaan Sforza, likely as an engraving, some time around the turn of the 17th century. Sforza, the Duke of Milan, is framed by an oval which is inscribed with his name and title. However, there's a tension between the dignified presentation and the unflattering text below. The text suggests Sforza is paying for his father's sins and that he lacks the greatness and nobility of his ancestors. The text implies that Sforza is melancholic, stupid, and negligent. It is even suggested that he is mad, perhaps due to a bewitchment. Here, Sforza’s identity is caught between public perception, family legacy, and perhaps his own internal struggles. It highlights how historical figures are not just defined by their titles or status, but by a complex interplay of personal attributes, historical context, and societal opinion.