Portrait of a Gentleman of the Della Ruota Family - Lombardy, dated1624?

Portrait of a Gentleman of the Della Ruota Family
Lombardy, dated1624?
Oil on canvas?
105 x 81 cm (without frame)

Inscription and heraldry:?
Coat of arms of the Della Ruota family in the upper left corner; dated 1624

This evocative portrait, dated 1624, presents a distinguished gentleman from the Della Ruota family at the age of 61. Shown half-length against a dark, almost featureless backdrop, the composition emphasizes the contrast between the sitter’s pale complexion and the surrounding shadow, drawing attention to his thoughtful expression and refined bearing.
Dressed in a sober yet elegant black garment with a crisp white collar, the sitter embodies the austere fashion and moral restraint typical of early 17th-century Lombard portraiture. Bald on the crown with closely cropped hair at the sides, he wears a neatly trimmed mustache and goatee. His direct and composed gaze, paired with a serene demeanor, conveys an air of introspection and quiet authority.
Resting his left hand on a red damask-covered table, he touches a small, closed book tied with string—likely a devotional or philosophical volume—beside which sits a human skull. These objects introduce a vanitas motif, reminding viewers of life’s transience and the futility of earthly pursuits. His right hand is subtly raised to his chest in a gesture that suggests self-awareness or rhetorical address.
The symbolism in the painting underscores the sitter’s intellectual and moral stature. The book and skull evoke themes of learning and mortality, while the richly patterned table covering hints at his social standing and cultivated background. Such elements were commonly employed in portraits of educated or devout individuals to convey personal virtue and spiritual contemplation.
The coat of arms in the upper left corner, featuring a wheel (ruota), identifies the sitter as a member of the noble Della Ruota family. This heraldic emblem serves as both a visual pun on the family name and a symbol of destiny, continuity, or divine order.
Rendered with a muted palette and understated detail, the work exemplifies the introspective realism of early Baroque Lombard painting.