Old Rags

Portrait of a Young Woman by Lorenzo di Credi, 1490’s Florence, the Metropolitan Museum of Art

This damaged but evocative portrait has been identified as the widow of Credi’s brother, who was a goldsmith. This would explain why she is dressed in black and holds a ring. The juniper bush (ginepro) behind her could refer to her name, Ginevra di Giovanni di Niccolò. The picture was inspired by Leonardo’s portrait of Ginevra de’ Benci in the National Gallery of Art, Washington.

(Source: metmuseum.org)

Court dress and petticoat (robe à la française), ca 1775 Italy, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

Portrait of a British cavalry officer’s wife by Giuseppe Bezzuoli, 1826

Beatrice d’Este by Bartolomeo Veneto, ca 1500 Italy, Snite Museum of Art (University of Notre Dame)

According to Gogm: “[Beatrice d’Este] lived from 1475-1497 so this is either a posthumous portrait or the circa 1500 in the date needs to be taken seriously.”

Portrait of a Young Lady by Federico Barocci, ca 1600, Statens Museum for Kunst

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Portrait of Camilla Spinola by Carlo Ceresa, ca 1633 Italy, Musée des Beaux-Arts de Strasbourg

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Portrait of a Noblewoman by Lavinia Fontana, ca 1580 Italy, National Museum of Women in the Arts

Portrait of a lady, probably Pantasilea Dotto Capodilista by Chiara Varotari, ca 1630 Italy, National Museum of Women in the Arts

Profile Portrait of a Young Lady by Antonio del Pollaiuolo, 1465 Italy, Gemäldegalerie

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(Source: metmuseum.org)

An Elegant Maid by Frederic Soulacroix, date unknown, Florence, Haynes Fine Art of Broadway

(Source: artnet.com)