Rogier van der Weyden (Netherlandish, Tournai ca. 1399–1464 Brussels), Francesco d'Este (born ca. 1429, died after 1486), ca. 1460. Oil on wood. Overall 31.8 x 22.2 cm; painted surface, each side 29.8 x 20.3 cm. The Friedsam Collection, Bequest of Michael Friedsam, 1931, 32.100.43. © 2000–2024 The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

The son of Leonello d’Este, ruler of Ferrara, Francesco received his education at the court of Philip the Good, duke of Burgundy. The hammer and ring may be jousting prizes, and the unusual white background could refer to the Este family’s livery colors (white, red, and green). The elegant lines of the sitter’s face and hands reflect the qualities that established Rogier van der Weyden’s supremacy as a court portraitist in the Netherlands.

Reverse: The Este family coat of arms and crest on the reverse of the panel emphasize the heraldic quality of the portrait. The inscription, "v[ot]re tout . . . francisque" (entirely yours, Francesco), forms a dedication to the portrait’s recipient, perhaps a friend or member of Philip the Good’s court. The "m" and "e" stand for "marchio estensis," the title extended to Francesco. The enigmatic scratched inscription in the upper left, "non plus / courcelles," may refer to the village in Burgundy where Francesco died.

'Hidden Faces: Covered Portraits of the Renaissance' at The Met until July 7, 2024.