The sitter in this oil painting by Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) has been identified as Cecilia Gallerani, who was the mistress of Leonardo's employer, Ludovico Sforza, Duke of Milan, known as Il Moro. At 16, Cecilia became the mistress of the Duke and bore him a son, but he chose to marry a girl from a nobler family. Not everyone knows that the background of the painting was originally dark blue or gray, and it was overpainted with black, probably between 1830 and 1870.
Lady with an Ermine
oil on wood panel • 54 × 39 cm
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Leonardo da Vinci