Artwork
Selvaggia Sassetti (born 1470)
Selvaggia Sassetti (born 1470) is a tempera painting by the Early Renaissance artist Davide Ghirlandaio. It dates from 1494 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Technique & Style
The portrait is executed in tempera on a wooden panel, a standard medium for Florentine portraiture of the late 15th century.
The portrait is executed in tempera on a wooden panel, a standard medium for Florentine portraiture of the late 15th century. Created by Davide Ghirlandaio in 1494, the work measures 57.2 cm in height and 44.1 cm in width. It depicts the sitter, Selvaggia Sassetti, within the formal conventions of the Renaissance portrait genre.
While specific details of the handling of the brush or the current conservation condition are not recorded, the physical construction relies on the traditional combination of pigment and panel. The work is held in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, having been acquired through the Michael Friedsam bequest.
History & Provenance
The portrait of Selvaggia Sassetti, painted by Davide Ghirlandaio in 1494, is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Acquired through the bequest of Michael Friedsam, it is catalogued as a tempera-on-panel painting measuring 57.2 by 44.1 centimetres. Its exhibition history includes the 1948 presentation 30 Masterpieces: An Exhibition of Paintings from the Collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the 1971 show Florentine Paintings in the Metropolitan Museum.
More recently it appeared in the 2012 exhibition The Renaissance Portrait: From Donatello to Bellini, which traveled to additional venues, highlighting the sitter's significance in Renaissance portraiture.
Overview
This tempera painting by Davide Ghirlandaio, created in 1494, captures the likeness of Selvaggia Sassetti, a woman born in 1470. Exemplifying the early Renaissance style, the portrait offers a direct and focused depiction of its subject. It is currently housed within the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, representing a significant work from a Florentine artist of the period.
Subject & Meaning
The portrait presents Selvaggia Sassetti with her light brown hair neatly styled and pulled back. She wears a green dress accented by a white collar featuring a subtle black cross pattern, and a red necklace with a small brooch adorns her chest. The composition emphasizes her face and attire, conveying a sense of calm and a steady, direct gaze, characteristic of Renaissance portraiture focused on individual presence.
Context
Davide Ghirlandaio operated within the vibrant artistic landscape of late 15th-century Florence. While often overshadowed by his elder brother Domenico, a leading figure of the Florentine Renaissance, Davide maintained an active practice as both a painter and a mosaicist. His work, including this portrait, reflects the prevailing artistic trends and workshop traditions of the period, contributing to the rich visual culture of the city.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Davide Ghirlandaio (1452–1525), also known as David Ghirlandaio and as Davide Bigordi, was an Italian painter and mosaicist, active in his native Florence.
