MELLIN, Charles
(b. ca. 1600, Nancy, d. 1649, Roma)

The Tuscan General Alessandro del Borro (?)

c. 1645
Oil on canvas, 203 x 121 cm
Staatliche Museen, Berlin

This amusing Baroque painting represents a buffoonlike military figure, genially displaying his corpulence in fullest profile, a Barberini banner at his feet. Formerly the painting was attributed to Bernini, then to Sacchi, and now it is ascribed to Charles Mellin, a Vouet pupil whose career was spent in Italy.