Portrait de Zaga Christ (?-1638), d'après Giovanna... Lot n° 273

Portrait of Zaga Christ (?-1638), Ethiopian prince (Sägga Krastos) Watercolor and gouache on laid paper (no visible watermark), round format. D. 5,2 cm. History Fascinating rediscovery of a copy of the very first identifiable portrait made ad vivum, in Europe, of a black man. The original copy of this portrait, by Giovanna Garzoni, a painter attached to the court of Savoy, has been in the Allen Memorial Art Museum at Oberlin College, Ohio since 2021 (inv. 2021.21). Made in 1635 on vellum, it depicts Zaga Christ (1610-1638), an intriguing character who broke into the Venetian consulate in Cairo in 1632, claiming to be the son of the previous king of Ethiopia, who had been assassinated by his rival Susyenos. Converted to Catholicism by the Franciscans, who saw an opportunity to compete with the Jesuit influence in Ethiopia, he was "sponsored" by this order which financed his long journey, first to Jerusalem, then to Europe. The European public gave a warm welcome to this prince who had come from afar, from a kingdom that was more or less Christian and who, therefore, enjoyed many sympathies in the minds of the educated elite. It was during the winter of 1634-1635, at the court of Turin, that he met Giovanna Garzoni, "Miniatrice di Madama Reale" (Miniaturist of the Royal Madam) and she painted this delicate and dignified ad vivum portrait of him, an unprecedented case of a black man portrayed in rich European clothes. It is highly probable that the work was commissioned by the model, who was well aware of the importance of being "known by the image" in order to attract rich supporters. He also had an autobiographical manuscript copied in several copies for distribution. After the portrait was completed, the paths of the prince and the painter diverged and Zaga Christ went to France, where Richelieu granted him protection. He was briefly imprisoned in 1637 on suspicion of adultery and died the following year at the age of 24 or 28 in Rueil, one of Richelieu's estates. His epitaph, now destroyed, is worth quoting: Here lies the king of Ethiopia / Whether original or copy / Was he king, was he not / Death has seen the debates. Garzoni's work then became part of the collection of the French banker and collector Jean Cottin (1680-1745), and it was probably at this time that a French artist made our copy, the only one known to date, which testifies to the exceptional status of this portrait, a true curiosity worthy of copying.