Artwork
Portrait of a Woman
Portrait of a Woman is an oil painting by the High Renaissance artist Andrea del Sarto. It dates from 1514 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.
About this work
Technique & Style
The work measures 73 cm in height and 56 cm in width, presenting a formal portrait of a woman depicted with a necklace and dress.
Andrea del Sarto executed the Portrait of a Woman in 1514 using oil paint applied to a wooden panel support. The work measures 73 cm in height and 56 cm in width, presenting a formal portrait of a woman depicted with a necklace and dress. Stylistically, the painting adheres to the High Renaissance tradition of the artist, focusing on the dignified representation of the sitter through careful handling of the oil medium.
The composition centers on the female subject, capturing her attire and jewelry with the precision characteristic of the period.
History & Provenance
Portrait of a Woman, painted by Andrea del Sarto in 1514, is housed in the Museo del Prado under inventory number P00968. The work has been part of the museum's collection since its acquisition and was featured in the 2009 exhibition "Andrea del Sarto: The Genius of the Florentine Renaissance," which traveled to the Louvre and the National Gallery, London.
Overview
Created in 1514, this oil portrait by Andrea del Sarto presents a seated woman rendered with restrained elegance. The work is part of the Museo del Prado’s collection, where it remains on display as an example of early‑Renaissance portraiture.
Subject & Meaning
The sitter is shown in a composed, forward‑facing pose, her expression calm and introspective. She wears a modest dark head covering, a simple necklace, and a draped mantle, suggesting a private, perhaps domestic, identity rather than overt status symbols.
Context
Executed during the early phase of del Sarto’s career, the portrait reflects the Florentine interest in individualized representation and the influence of contemporaries such as Leonardo and Michelangelo, who emphasized naturalistic rendering and psychological presence.
Artist & collection
Artist
Andrea del Sarto was an Italian painter from Florence, whose career flourished during the High Renaissance and early Mannerism.
