Where can I see Portrait of a Woman?

Portrait of a Woman is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is Portrait of a Woman?

Portrait of a Woman is associated with Mannerism.

Artwork

Portrait of a Woman

Portrait of a Woman is an unspecified painting. It dates from 1596 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. This painting presents a portrait of an unidentified woman, rendered with a pale complexion and light hair.

About this work

Technique & Style

The sources do not supply further detail on the medium, dimensions, condition, or stylistic handling.

Portrait of a Woman is classified as a painting and, per the Wikidata record, is specifically a portrait miniature by Nicholas Hilliard, the Elizabethan miniaturist. The work is dated 1596 and is held by the Cleveland Museum of Art under accession number 1949.545. As a miniature it would have been executed on a small support using watercolour, in the technique characteristic of Hilliard's practice, though the available sources do not specify the exact support or materials.

The genre is recorded as both portrait and miniature. The sources do not supply further detail on the medium, dimensions, condition, or stylistic handling.

History & Provenance

Created in 1596, this portrait miniature is attributed to the English artist Nicholas Hilliard. It entered the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is held under accession number 1949.545. While internal records list the creator as unknown, external cataloguing identifies Hilliard, active in the late sixteenth century, as the artist.

The piece is classified as a portrait miniature, consistent with Hilliard's specialised output. No specific exhibition history is provided in the available records.

Overview

This painting presents a portrait of an unidentified woman, rendered with a pale complexion and light hair. She is depicted in dark attire, including a black dress and a blue cloak, set against a plain, somber background. The artwork, housed within a simple circular wooden frame, exhibits characteristics consistent with its age, including visible wear along its edges.

Subject & Meaning

The sitter is portrayed with her hands folded, conveying a sense of quiet dignity. Her costume features a high lace collar and a dark glove on one hand, complemented by a modest necklace. These elements of dress and her composed posture suggest a depiction intended to convey a certain social status and personal reserve, typical of portraiture from earlier periods.