Niccolò Nelli

Niccolò Nelli was an artist active during a short period in the mid-sixteenth century, with his documented production concentrated between 1564 and 1569. Nelli’s surviving body of work consists almost exclusively of prints, reflecting a dual focus on both satirical genre subjects and detailed portraiture of contemporary European political figures.

The inventory of his work includes the genre piece The Land of Cockaigne, a known example of period satire. Simultaneously, Nelli specialized in highly specific political portraiture, capturing figures such as Queen Mary I of England and Queen Mary of England. Further documented portraits confirming his engagement with European court figures include the Portret van Alexander Farnese, hertog van Parma and the Portret van Don Juan van Oostenrijk, landvoogd der Nederlanden.

Approximately ten of Niccolò Nelli prints are represented in major international institutions, establishing the historical significance and museum-quality of his surviving output. This body of work is preserved in established collections, notably the Rijksmuseum and the National Gallery of Art. Due to their historical age, many of these works are held in the public domain and are often accessible as downloadable artwork for researchers and collectors.