Sibyl of Samos
1650
oil
From the collection of Hermitage Museum
This painting shows a woman sitting by a table with an open book, looking down. She wears a red dress and a white shirt with puffy sleeves. Her hair is wrapped in a green cloth. The woman's right hand rests on a closed book, which has "Sibylla Samia" written on its spine. Her left hand supports her chin as she gazes at the open book. The room is dark, except for a light source coming from the right side. The woman is depicted in a contemplative mood, surrounded by the shadows of the room. To learn more about the technique used in this painting, look up chiaroscuro.
