Feminae: Medieval Women and Gender Index


  • Title: Simonetta Vespucci as Mythological Nymph
  • Creator: Botticelli, Sandro, painter
  • Description: Simonetta Vespucci, the mistress of Giuliano de Medici, is here portrayed as a nymph. Her hair is loose and seductive, and it is wound with pearls and ribbons and topped with a jeweld feather ornament. Her necklace depicts a classical scene. Simonetta's beauty was considered the humanist ideal and her likeness was portrayed by artists long after her death; Botticelli was only nine years old when she died.
  • Source: WikiMedia Commons
  • Rights: Public domain
  • Subject (See Also): Classical Influences Concubies Headdresses Jewelry Profile Portraits Vespucci, Simonetta, Mistress of Giuliano de' Medici
  • Geographic Area: Italy
  • Century: 15
  • Date: ca. 1480
  • Related Work: Piero di Cosimo, Simonetta Vespucci as Cleopatra, ca. 1480, Chantilly, Musée Condé
  • Current Location: Frankfurt, Städel Museum, nv. Nr. 936
  • Original Location:
  • Artistic Type (Category): Digital images; Paintings
  • Artistic Type (Material/Technique): Panel paintings; Tempera; Oil
  • Donor:
  • Height/Width/Length(cm): 82cm/54cm/
  • Inscription:
  • Related Resources: