Portrait of a lady as Flora, half-length, in a floral surround

Giovanni Stanchi was a Roman artist who specialized in vases and garlands of flowers, the latter often surrounding figures painted by artists Elisabetta Sirani, or Carlo Maratti, as in this example. He was particularly favored by Vittoria della Rovere, the wife of Ferdinando II, and played a role in decorating the Grand Ducal residences near Florence. This type of painting is northern in origin, and was originally developed in Italy by Jan Bruegel 'dei Velluti' when he was in the service of Cardinal Borromeo in Milan.