Portrait of Cardinal Ludovico Ludovisi

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's duties as secretary of state. In the seated, three-quarter length format the influence of Raphael can be noted.