Cecilia Gallerani with Ermine Detail

This is a detail from a portrait of Cecilia Gallerani, painted by Leonardo da Vinci around 1489-1491. The image focuses on Cecilia's hand gently holding an ermine. The ermine symbolizes purity and restraint, and also puns on Cecilia's name (the Greek word for ermine is 'gale'). The portrait is an example of da Vinci's sfumato technique and his keen observation of nature.