Artwork
Lady in a Landscape (recto); Bust-Length Profile of an Old Woman (verso)
Lady in a Landscape (recto); Bust-Length Profile of an Old Woman (verso) is a drawing by the Baroque artist Dosso Dossi. It is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
- Accession no.
- 1980.195
- Credit line
- Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund
About this work
Overview
This dual-sided drawing, created around 1630 by Italian Renaissance painter Dosso Dossi, features two distinct female portraits: a serene lady in a landscape on the recto, and a bust-length profile of an older woman on the verso.
Subject & Meaning
The verso shows an older woman’s profile, her head covered by a veil or cloth, conveying a sense of quiet contemplation.
The recto depicts a young woman standing calmly in a landscape, holding an indeterminate long object (possibly a fan or scroll), dressed in a simple belted gown with her hair pulled back. The verso shows an older woman’s profile, her head covered by a veil or cloth, conveying a sense of quiet contemplation. The subjects' meanings are not explicitly stated, suggesting they may be studies or explorations of character.
Technique & Style
History & Provenance
Created during Dosso Dossi’s long tenure as court artist to the Este Dukes of Ferrara and Modena (1514 until his death), the drawing is now part of The Cleveland Museum of Art’s collection, accompanied by handwritten Italian notes on the aged, yellowed paper.
Context
While the specific context of these sketches is unclear, they reflect Dossi's broader practice of exploring mythological and allegorical themes, though these particular works focus on everyday female figures.
Legacy
The piece illustrates Dossi's contribution to the Venetian-influenced aesthetic of the Ferrara School, with its emphasis on subtle lighting and expressive simplicity, precursor to techniques like chiaroscuro.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Giovanni di Niccolò de Luteri, better known as Dosso Dossi (c. 1489–1542) was an Italian Renaissance painter who belonged to the School of Ferrara, painting in a style mainly influenced by Venetian painting, in…
