Artwork
Portrait of a Woman

Portrait of a Woman is an oil painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Jacopo Zucchi. It is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The painting, titled Portrait of a Woman and attributed to Jacopo Zucchi around 1600, presents a single female sitter rendered in oil on panel.
The painting, titled Portrait of a Woman and attributed to Jacopo Zucchi around 1600, presents a single female sitter rendered in oil on panel. The depicted woman is identified by a pearl necklace, a detail recorded in the work's description, which situates the image within the portrait genre of early-seventeenth-century Florentine art. As a portrait, the composition serves to record the appearance of the sitter, while the inclusion of the necklace functions as a visual element of her attire rather than an allegorical attribute.
Technique & Style
Jacopo Zucchi's Portrait of a Woman is an oil painting on a panel support. The work measures 97.8 cm in height and 76.2 cm in width. Stylistically, the portrait depicts a woman adorned with a pearl necklace, rendered through the application of oil paint.
The medium and support combination is characteristic of the Florentine painter's approach to portraiture during this period. The painting is currently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
History & Provenance
Created around 1600 by the Florentine artist Jacopo Zucchi, this oil painting on panel depicts a woman wearing a pearl necklace. The work's documented ownership history includes possession by Michael Friedsam. Following Friedsam's tenure, the painting entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it remains housed.
While the specific circumstances of its original commission are not detailed in the available records, the inception date is established at the turn of the seventeenth century.
Overview
Jacopo Zucchi, a Florentine painter, created this oil on canvas, Portrait of a Woman, around 1600. The work exemplifies the refined portraiture of the early Baroque period, showcasing the artist's skill in rendering both individual likeness and intricate details. It features a woman seated in an opulent setting, adorned with a pearl necklace and elaborate attire, reflecting the era's appreciation for material richness. The painting is part of The Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Jacopo Zucchi (c. 1541– c. 1590) was a Florentine painter of the Mannerist style, active in Florence and Rome. His training began in the studio of Giorgio Vasari, and he participated in the decoration of the Studiolo…


















