Who painted Portrait of a woman with parrot?

Portrait of a woman with parrot was painted by Barthel Beham in 1529.

Where can I see Portrait of a woman with parrot?

Portrait of a woman with parrot is held by Kunsthistorisches Museum.

What movement is Portrait of a woman with parrot?

Portrait of a woman with parrot is associated with Early Baroque Italian.

Artwork

Portrait of a woman with parrot

Barthel Beham , 1529

Portrait of a woman with parrot is an unspecified painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Barthel Beham. It dates from 1529 and is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1529 by the German Renaissance artist Bartolomeus Beham, this lime‑panel painting portrays a seated woman accompanied by a parrot. The work is part of the collection of Vienna’s Kunsthistorisches Museum, where it is displayed among other early‑16th‑century Northern European pieces.

Subject & Meaning

The sitter is shown in a fur‑trimmed coat over a white blouse, her head covered by a modest scarf. She rests her right hand on a table, holding a small, unidentified object, while a parrot perches on her forearm. Scattered grapes and other items on the surface hint at themes of abundance and perhaps a subtle reference to sensuality.

Technique & Style

Beham employs a restrained chiaroscuro, modeling the figure with delicate contrasts of light and shadow that give the fabric and fur a tactile quality. The palette features deep reds and muted earth tones, while the fine brushwork renders the bird’s feathers and the glossy grapes with convincing texture.

History & Provenance

The panel entered the Kunsthistorisches Museum’s holdings in the early 20th century, having passed through several private collections in Central Europe. Documentation traces its ownership back to a Viennese aristocratic family, suggesting it may have originally been a domestic portrait commissioned for personal display.

Context

Bartolomeus Beham, alongside his brother Hans, was known for small‑scale portraiture that blended Northern detail with Italianate compositional balance. This work reflects the period’s fascination with exotic animals, such as parrots, which were symbols of wealth and curiosity in the early modern courts of the Holy Roman Empire.