The Prefect Raffaele Raggi
c. 1625
Van Dyck captured the ultimate 17th-century power suit in this dashing portrait of Genoese official Raffaele Raggi. Clad in gleaming ceremonial armor and draped in a dramatic, swirling red sash, Raggi looks less like a bureaucrat and more like a battlefield hero ready for his close-up. Painted during Van Dyck's 'Genoa period,' this piece showcases the artist's signature ability to make aristocrats look effortlessly cool and commanding. It’s a masterclass in Baroque swagger, proving that looking good in armor was just as important then as it is in fantasy movies today.
- Technique
- Oil on canvas
- Material
- Oil paint
Location: National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
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