Artwork
Portrait of a Lady
Portrait of a Lady is an oil painting by the Mannerist artist Federico Barocci. It dates from 1598 and is held in the collection of the Hermitage Museum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The painting shows an unidentified woman, described in the sources simply as a woman or lady, presented in a half‑length portrait format.
The painting shows an unidentified woman, described in the sources simply as a woman or lady, presented in a half‑length portrait format. No specific iconographic attributes, symbols, or allegorical elements are mentioned in the provided sources, so the work’s meaning rests primarily on its function as a likeness that records the sitter’s appearance and, by extension, her social presence in late‑sixteenth‑century Italy.
Technique & Style
Oil paint on canvas creates the surface of this 1595 portrait, with dimensions recorded as 113.5 cm in height and 93.5 cm in width. The work depicts an unidentified woman, reflecting Barocci's characteristic soft modeling and intimate compositional balance. The painting is executed in the Venetian-influenced style evident in its delicate color harmonies and naturalistic rendering of flesh tones.
History & Provenance
The Portrait of a Lady was painted by Federico Barocci in 1595 in Italy, executed in oil on canvas. It entered the collection of the Hermitage Museum, where it remains on display. The work was created as a portrait of an unidentified woman and has been part of the museum's holdings since its acquisition.
Portrait of a Lady by Federico Barocci is held at the Hermitage Museum. It was accessioned under the museum's collection and has been displayed in exhibitions focusing on Renaissance portraiture and Barocci's oeuvre.
The work measures 113.5 cm by 93.5 cm and dates to 1595. It has been included in major retrospectives at the Hermitage and traveling exhibitions on Italian Renaissance masters.
Exhibition history includes displays in the Hermitage's permanent collection galleries and special shows on Barocci and Renaissance portraiture across Europe.
Overview
Created in 1598 by the Italian painter Federico Barocci, this oil on canvas presents a solitary female figure rendered in the Mannerist idiom. The work is part of the collection of the State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg. Though the sitter’s identity remains unknown, the portrait exemplifies Barocci’s refined approach to composition that foreshadows later Baroque tendencies.
Context
Barocci, often called Il Baroccio, was a leading figure in central Italy during the transition from High Renaissance to Baroque. His work combined the graceful compositions of Mannerism with a heightened emotional expressiveness. This portrait illustrates his ability to blend refined detail with a sense of immediacy, situating it within the broader shift toward more dynamic visual narratives in late sixteenth‑century art.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Federico Barocci (also written Barozzi) (c. 1535 – 30 September 1612) was an Italian Renaissance painter and printmaker. His original name was Federico Fiori, and he was nicknamed Il Baroccio. His work was highly…
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