A Sibyl

This is a half-length, three-quarter view portrayal of a female figure with her body facing her left and her head turned to her right. Her arms are crossed, with her hands resting on the book she is holding. Her Eastern-style clothing is made from richly decorated fabrics. The image, which occupies almost the entire surface of the canvas, emerges from a dark, neutral background. She is painted with accented shapes, gentle colors, and a deep, thoughtful expression, looking upward with her black eyes. She is a sibyl—a pagan woman from classical antiquity—attributed with prophetic powers. The book she is holding is the book of prophecies. This is a copy of another canvas by Domenico Zampieri, known as Domenichino (1581–1641).