Feminae: Medieval Women and Gender Index

Title: Profile of a Woman
Creator: Ghirlandaio, Domenico, painter
Description: This work in many ways recalls the commemorative profile portrait of Giovanna Tornbuoni. A woman wearing a simple dress and haircovering is rendered in profile against an open cabinet that holds an open book--probably a prayer book--prayer beads and a jeweled brooch. These objects symbolize the woman's elevated status and piety. The glass flask might refer to her purity, and the two porphyry columns in the left background probably serve as symbols of fortitude and constancy--two desirable qualities in a wife. Against this collection of symbolic objects, the woman becomes a symbol herself and it is possible that this portrait, like the Giovanna Tornabuoni profile, commemorates the dead wife of a nobleman.
Source: WikiMedia Commons
Rights: Public domain
Subject (See Also): Books Commemoration Jewelry Portraits
Geographic Area: Italy
Century: 15
Date: circa 1490
Related Work:
Current Location: San Marino, Henry E. Huntington Art Gallery and Library
Original Location:
Artistic Type (Category): Digital images; Paintings
Artistic Type (Material/Technique): Panel paintings; Tempera; Oil
Donor:
Height/Width/Length(cm): 51.8 cm/39.7 cm/
Inscription:
Related Resources: Online record for the portrait from the Huntington: http://emuseum.huntington.org/view/objects/asitem/People$00402311/1?t:state:flow=4e72ca66-ffa7-4922-b71e-61547fb96dfa