Feminae: Medieval Women and Gender Index

Title: Ginevra de' Benci (obverse)
Creator: Leonardo da Vinci, humanist
Description: Ginevra de' Benci sits before a juniper bush, the plant from which her name is derived. She is rendered in three-quarters-profile, which encourages a greater sense of engagement with the viewer. This panel has been cut down, probably to remove damaged portions, and as a result Ginevra's hands are now gone. A preparatory drawing shows that she probably held a flower, mostly likely a pink--a flower that symbolized devotion. Ginevra's rather plain dress is surprising, as most portraits of women were commissioned either to commemorate their marriage or to mark their engagement.
Source: WikiMedia Commons
Rights: Public domain
Subject (See Also): Flowers Nuptial Imagery Portraits
Geographic Area: Italy
Century: 15
Date: ca. 1474-1478
Related Work: The reverse side of the panel presents an emblem of a sprig of juniper with laurel and palm branches. Beneath is the motto "VIRTVTEM FORMA DECORAT"[Beauty adorns virtue]: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Leonardo_da_Vinci_-_Reverse_side_of_the_port
Current Location: Washington D.C., National Gallery of Art, 1967.6.1.a
Original Location:
Artistic Type (Category): Digital images; Paintings
Artistic Type (Material/Technique): Panel paintings; Oil
Donor:
Height/Width/Length(cm): 38.1cm/37cm/
Inscription:
Related Resources: