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Sibilla Persica (The Persian Sibyl)

Ambrosius Benson

1532

oil

panel

From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum

Northern Renaissance

Dominant colour

Sibilla Persica (The Persian Sibyl) is a 1532 oil by Ambrosius Benson, a Northern Renaissance work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.

Who painted this?: Ambrosius Benson
When & what style?: 1532 · Northern Renaissance
Where can I see it?: Victoria and Albert Museum

About this work

The painting depicts a woman in a red dress with a white head covering, holding a book. She wears a gold crown and has a fur-trimmed sleeve. A banner with text is visible at the bottom. The woman's attire and the book she holds suggest a sense of learning or wisdom. The gold crown and fur-trimmed sleeve indicate a level of wealth or status. If you're interested in learning more about the artist who created this piece, look up Ambrosius Benson.

About the artist

Artist

Ambrosius Benson

Ambrosius Benson (c. 1495/1500 – 1550) was an Italian painter who became a part of the Northern Renaissance. While many surviving paintings have been attributed, there is very little known of him from records, and he…

See the richer artist page