Portrait of a Couple
1584
unspecified
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
1584
unspecified
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
You see a man and woman standing side by side, dressed in fancy clothes. The woman holds a fur with a jeweled head, and the man rests his hand on a sword. This painting was likely made to celebrate a marriage. The small numbers on the wall show their ages—35 and 28. Their jewelry and fabrics weren’t just for show; they proved the family’s power and wealth. Even the fur had meaning—it stood for good behavior. If you like this, look up more about northern Italy, late 16th century.
