Portrait of Marchese Ambrogio Spinola

The portrayed Marchese Ambrogio Spinola (1569-1630) was employed in the service of Archduke Albrecht and his wife. This Genoese was an outstanding military commander and statesman. As a man of strict principles, he gained respect not only at the Brussels court, but also among the Habsburgs’ opponents: he maintained good relations with the representatives of the Dutch aristocracy. Spinola´s friends included even Rubens, who created several portraits of the Marchese. The Prague one is considered the most valuable artistically.