17TH/18TH C. MALTESE SCHOOL OIL ON CANVAS H 47" W 39.25" PORTRAIT OF JOANNES TRESSINUS, KNIGHT COMMANDER OF MALTA Depicting a 3/4 length portrait of sitter in dress armor. Having a pectoral cross of the Order of the Knights of Saint John suspended from a braided chain. A rapier hangs from a belt adorned with gold fittings. Inscribed upper right: "Frater Joannes Tressinus commendator Ravennae Egus annoru LVII. On linen canvas. Provenance: From an Ardmoor Drive estate, Bloomfield Hills, Mi.

An early canvas appears to have been relined on a linen canvas in the 19th c.. Old varnish has darkened significantly over the years and makes ascertainment of older restorations difficult. Pigment and varnish is evenly distributed and shows evidence of a very old restoration on the sitter's left shoulder. Other than the aforementioned restoration, the canvas appears to be intact and original. Whilst the frame has all the characteristics of an 18th c, frame, it is difficult to ascertain due to an applied paper backing likely applied when the painting was conserved in the 19th c..

47 x 39.25 x 0.75 in