“Portrait of Young Woman”
For today, one of the glorious Italian Renaissance portraits made at the Florentine workshop of the del Pollaiuolo brothers…
“Portrait of Young Woman” is an oil and tempera on panel painting made by the Italian Renaissance artist, Piero del Pollaiuolo, sometimes spelled Pollaiolo, from circa 1470. The Pollaiuolo brothers created a large number of naturalistic and detailed portraits of women towards the end of the fifteenth century.
This is a wonderful example of early Florentine Renaissance art with its clear lines, the pose of the woman, and the style of dress. Nearly all portraits made during this time were a profile view. The woman’s profile is made stark by the blue of the sky behind her. A string of pearls winds through her hair, and a jewel hangs from her neck.
This painting is allegedly by Piero del Pollaiuolo. However, Pollaiuolo shared a studio with his brother, Antonio, and the two often collaborated with each other. They even collaborated on the same piece of art, which makes it hard for art historians today to separate their work. This portrait here was ascribed to Piero due to the similarities between it and three other portraits known to have been painted by him, one which of is “Portrait of a Woman“.
The Pollaiuolo studio was quite successful in Florence during the late fifteenth century. Today, it is regarded as one of the most important art studios of the Renaissance. The brothers were often commissioned to create works for the well-known and respected Medici family who were patrons to many of the great artists of Florence during this period, including Michelangelo.
“Portrait of Young Woman” is currently in the collections of the Museo Poldi Pezzoli in Milan, Italy.
For more on Piero del Pollaiuolo, please visit his short biography here.
You can find more artists to learn about here.
