Portrait of a Lady

The woman of this portrait looks directly at the viewer with an impenetrable stare. She denies us a glimpse of her inner emotions, yet signals her social class. Her ornate costume and array of accessories speak for her. With a subtle flourish, the artist indelibly links the woman with these beautiful objects by harmonizing the pink stripes in her teal sleeve with her rosy cheeks.

Angolo Bronzino’s crystalline portraits are a singular contribution to the genre. Notably he painted more likenesses of women than his contemporaries, always demonstrating the utmost deliberation in their execution. This painting is first recorded in 1653, and the names of the sitter and the artist are lost. However, an attribution to Bronzino or a painter in his circle is secure thanks to its unmistakable style.