Portrait of a Noblewoman

Let's start celebrating Women's History Month! :)

A great painter of the Italian Renaissance, Lavinia Fontana had an amazing ability to render rich clothing and jewels in astonishing detail. The contrast between the woman and the painting’s plain, dark background is especially strong, ensuring that viewers will focus on the figure. The woman from the painting remains unidentified, but she was most likely a young Bolognese noblewoman who just got married. Studies of account books and family diaries from this period show that the clothes and gems depicted here correspond precisely to the items typical of a high-born bride’s trousseau. Additionally, 16th-century Bolognese brides wore red dresses. The cute dog represents marital fidelity.

P.S. Learn more about Lavinia Fontana's very successful career. <3

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