Who painted Portrait of a Woman with a Lynx?

Portrait of a Woman with a Lynx was painted by Francesco Bacchiacca in 1530.

Where can I see Portrait of a Woman with a Lynx?

Portrait of a Woman with a Lynx is held by Gemäldegalerie Berlin.

What movement is Portrait of a Woman with a Lynx?

Portrait of a Woman with a Lynx is associated with Mannerism.

Can I buy a print of Portrait of a Woman with a Lynx?

Museum-quality prints of Portrait of a Woman with a Lynx are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Portrait of a Woman with a Lynx

Francesco Bacchiacca , 1530

Portrait of a Woman with a Lynx is an oil painting by the Mannerist artist Francesco Bacchiacca. It dates from 1530 and is held in the collection of the Gemäldegalerie Berlin. Created in 1530, the painting shows a seated woman cradling a lynx.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1530, the painting shows a seated woman cradling a lynx. She is dressed in a dark green gown, a white veil covers her head, and a gold chain rests at her throat. The background is a subdued brown, and the composition conveys a restrained, introspective mood.

Subject & Meaning

The work presents a solitary female figure whose sideways glance and gentle hand on the animal suggest a quiet dialogue between human and beast. The lynx, turned away and looking elsewhere, may symbolize vigilance or rarity, while the woman's calm demeanor reinforces a sense of contemplative poise.

Technique & Style

Executed in oil on panel, the painting reflects the Florentine Mannerist tendency toward elegant elongation and refined surface detail. Soft modeling of flesh contrasts with the textured fur of the lynx, and the limited palette of greens, whites, and earth tones emphasizes tonal harmony over dramatic contrast.

History & Provenance

The portrait was produced by Francesco d’Ubertino Verdi, known as Bachiacca, a member of the Florentine artistic circle. After remaining in private hands for several centuries, it entered the collection of the Gemäldegalerie in Berlin, where it is currently displayed.

Context

Bachiacca worked during the High Renaissance, a period when Florentine artists explored sophisticated portraiture that combined personal likeness with symbolic elements. This painting exemplifies that blend, integrating a fashionable sitter with an exotic animal to convey status, virtue, or intellectual curiosity.

Own this work as a print

Artist & collection

Artist

Francesco Bacchiacca

Francesco d'Ubertino Verdi, called Bachiacca (say "bah ki ah cka"). He is also known as Francesco Ubertini, il Bacchiacca (1494–1557). He was an Italian painter of the Renaissance whose work is characteristic of the…