# Portrait of Cardinal Ludovico Ludovisi

[View the canonical artwork record](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/leoni-ottavio-ra5f3a471aafbf5/portrait-of-cardinal-ludovico-ludovisi-r82424c9cfde251>)

## Artwork

- Artist: [LEONI, Ottavio](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/leoni-ottavio-ra5f3a471aafbf5>)
- Date: 1601-1650
- Technique: Oil on canvas, 136 x 100 cm

## Commentary

This sensitive portrait of Ludovico, turning his head to meet the gaze of the viewer, must have been painted by Ottavio Leoni shortly after Ludovico, a protégé of Pope Gregory XV \(1621-1623\), became cardinal. Wearing the ring symbolic of his new office, his lively right hand grasps the chair, while his left hand languidly holds a letter, likely alluding to Ludovico&#39;s duties as secretary of state. In the seated, three-quarter length format the &lt;a onclick=&#34;return OpenOther\(&#39;/html/r/raphael/5roma/1/09julius.html&#39;\)&#34; href=&#34;/html/r/raphael/5roma/1/09julius.html&#34;&gt;influence of Raphael&lt;/a&gt; can be noted.

## Related artworks

- [Caravaggio](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/leoni-ottavio-ra5f3a471aafbf5/caravaggio-rd4e9d31f747db8>)
- [Cardinal Francesco del Monte](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/leoni-ottavio-ra5f3a471aafbf5/cardinal-francesco-del-monte-r649b770b2d6f2f>)
- [Giovanni Lorenzo Bernini](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/leoni-ottavio-ra5f3a471aafbf5/giovanni-lorenzo-bernini-r5c3978476402c3>)
- [Portrait of a Lady](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/leoni-ottavio-ra5f3a471aafbf5/portrait-of-a-lady-rc208767467dd2b>)
- [Portrait of Annibale Carracci](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/leoni-ottavio-ra5f3a471aafbf5/portrait-of-annibale-carracci-r28e9b97516a7b3>)
- [Portrait of Guido Reni](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/leoni-ottavio-ra5f3a471aafbf5/portrait-of-guido-reni-r216e1fea440362>)
- [Self-Portrait](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/leoni-ottavio-ra5f3a471aafbf5/self-portrait-rdd59bed75b0854>)

## Attribution

[Web Gallery of Art](<https://beta.wga.hu/pages/about>)