Bust of Francesco I d'Este

The Bust of Francesco I d'Este is a stunning marble portrait created by the renowned Italian sculptor Gian Lorenzo Bernini in 1652. This extraordinary piece, depicting Francesco I d'Este, the Duke of Modena, is proudly displayed at the Museo Estense in Modena, Italy.

Bernini's masterful craftsmanship captures the duke with a noble yet somewhat aloof expression. The intricate details of the drapery and the elaborate hair are particularly striking, embodying the grandeur and authority often associated with the absolute monarchy of that era.

Adding to the bust's legacy, the artist Francesco Stringa painted a portrait of it in the late 1660s. This painting, which includes various surrounding objects, is now part of the collection at the Minneapolis Institute of Art.