16th-century Italian School, Renaissance Portrait of a Lady, Antique Painting

Name: 16th-century Italian School, Renaissance Portrait of a Lady, Antique Painting
Brand: Antique
SKU: SA1147798
Availability: SoldOut

16th century

Sold by Brave Fine Art

Description

This beautiful late 16th-century Italian oil on leather depicts a lady wearing an exquisite hair ensemble consisting of pearls and rubies set in gold. It’s an exceptionally rare piece with a comparable example at the V&A Museum in London.

Produced during the late Renaissance period, when Italy was still captivated by the works of Titian (c.1488-1576) and Paolo Veronese (1528-1588), this remarkable survivor has witnessed around 450 years of history. Evidently of high status and wealth, the sitter is presented atop a tooled and stamped background, and carefully rendered in oil.

16th-century portraits on leather are scarce when compared to popular mediums, such as wood, canvas and paper, and were usually intended as decorative enhancements to household furnishings or wall hangings. With this in mind, it’s plausible that it was once displayed at her residence, perhaps along with a portrait of her spouse.

Her hair jewellery is typical for the period and features strands of pearls interspersed with rubies. Ornaments such as these were worn to indicate one’s status and also included aigrettes, made of feathers or jewels, and hairpins. Alessandro Allori’s (1535-1607) portrait of Bianca Cappello is interesting for comparison.

Held in a later frame.

Medium: Oil on stamped and tooled leather, laid on panel

Overall size: 12” x 14½” / 31cm x 37cm

Year of creation: c. 1575

Provenance: Private collection, France.

Condition: Cleaned. Craquelure throughout. The paint layer is stable. Areas of age-related discolouration. Frame with various marks and showing its age.

Our reference: BRV2166

Physical Dimensions

Height

37cm (14.57")

Width

31cm (12.20")

Depth

3cm (1.18")

Declaration

Brave Fine Art has dated this piece to the 16th Century.

Reference Numbers

Sellingantiques Reference

SA1147798

Description

“

Produced during the late Renaissance period, when Italy was still captivated by the works of Titian (c.

Brave Fine Art

1488-1576) and Paolo Veronese (1528-1588), this remarkable survivor has witnessed around 450 years of history. Evidently of high status and wealth, the sitter is presented atop a tooled and stamped background, and carefully rendered in oil.

fig 1. 16th-Century Italian School, Renaissance Portrait Of A Lady, Antique Painting — fig 1. 16th-century Italian School, Renaissance Portrait of a Lady, Antique Painting

16th-century portraits on leather are scarce when compared to popular mediums, such as wood, canvas and paper, and were usually intended as decorative enhancements to household furnishings or wall hangings. With this in mind, it’s plausible that it was once displayed at her residence, perhaps along with a portrait of her spouse.

fig 2. 16th-Century Italian School, Renaissance Portrait Of A Lady, Antique Painting — fig 2. 16th-century Italian School, Renaissance Portrait of a Lady, Antique Painting

Her hair jewellery is typical for the period and features strands of pearls interspersed with rubies. Ornaments such as these were worn to indicate one’s status and also included aigrettes, made of feathers or jewels, and hairpins. Alessandro Allori’s (1535-1607) portrait of Bianca Cappello is interesting for comparison.

fig 3. 16th-Century Italian School, Renaissance Portrait Of A Lady, Antique Painting — fig 3. 16th-century Italian School, Renaissance Portrait of a Lady, Antique Painting

Held in a later frame.

Medium: Oil on stamped and tooled leather, laid on panel

Overall size: 12” x 14½” / 31cm x 37cm

Year of creation: c. 1575

Provenance: Private collection, France.

Condition: Cleaned. Craquelure throughout. The paint layer is stable. Areas of age-related discolouration. Frame with various marks and showing its age.

Our reference: BRV2166