Isabella Flores
Lady with an Ermine is a painting by Leonardo da Vinci, dated to c. 1489–1491. The painting is 40.3 cm wide and 54.8 cm high, and it is painted in oils on a panel of walnut wood. The subject of the portrait is Cecilia Gallerani, the mistress of Lodovico Sforza, Duke of Milan. The painting is currently housed at the Czartoryski Museum in Kraków, Poland.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Creator | Leonardo da Vinci |
| Date | c. 1489–1491 |
| Medium | Oil on walnut board |
| Dimensions | 40.3 cm x 54.8 cm |
| Current location | Czartoryski Museum, Kraków |
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What You'll Learn
The painting's size
Lady with an Ermine is a painting by the Italian Renaissance artist Leonardo da Vinci. The painting is housed at the Czartoryski Museum in Kraków, Poland. It is one of Poland's national treasures and part of the Princes Czartoryski Collection. The painting was acquired in Italy in 1798 by Prince Adam George Czartoryski and his family. It was later purchased by the Polish government in 2016.
The painting is executed with oil paints on a walnut board. The walnut board is thin, measuring about 4-5 millimetres (0.16-0.20 inches) in thickness. The painting's dimensions are 40.3 cm by 54.8 cm, which is equivalent to approximately 15.86 inches by 21.57 inches.
The painting is a portrait of Cecilia Gallerani, the mistress of Ludovico Sforza, Duke of Milan. Leonardo was in the service of the Duke when the portrait was painted. Gallerani was renowned for her beauty, scholarship, and poetry. She was about sixteen years old when the portrait was made and was likely painted around 1489-1491.
The painting is a captivating and innovative masterpiece, showcasing the complexity of emotions and symbolism through the ermine and light. It is considered one of Leonardo's most important works and is known for its exquisite elegance and artistic genius.
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Walnut wood panel
Lady with an Ermine, a painting by the Italian Renaissance artist Leonardo da Vinci, is painted on a single piece of walnut wood. The walnut board is thin, measuring 4-5 millimetres (0.16-0.20 inches) in thickness. The painting, dated to c. 1489–1491, is a portrait of Cecilia Gallerani, the mistress of Ludovico Sforza, Duke of Milan. Leonardo was in the service of the Duke when the painting was executed. Gallerani was renowned for her beauty, scholarship, and poetry.
The walnut wood panel is an important aspect of the painting's history and preservation. Leonardo favoured walnut wood for his paintings, although it was not commonly used by other artists in Lombardy. The choice of walnut wood may have contributed to the painting's survival over the centuries, as it has endured exile, concealment in hidden cellars, and even theft.
The painting measures 40.3 cm in width and 54.8 cm in height. It is a three-quarter portrait, with the subject's body turned to the left, while her face is snapped to the right, as if looking at something outside the frame. This unique positioning adds to the intrigue and allure of the artwork.
The walnut panel is not only a structural component but also a key element in the artistic expression of the piece. The warm tones of the walnut wood complement the colours used in the painting, enhancing the overall aesthetic appeal. Additionally, the grain and texture of the wood may have influenced Leonardo's brushstrokes and technique, contributing to the distinctive style of the artwork.
The Lady with an Ermine is now housed at the Czartoryski Museum in Kraków, Poland, where it is considered one of the nation's treasures. The painting's journey to the museum was eventful, having been acquired in Italy in 1798 by Prince Adam George Czartoryski and later becoming part of the Princes Czartoryski Collection. The work has travelled extensively and has been exhibited in various prestigious locations worldwide, including Warsaw, Moscow, Washington, D.C., and Rome/Milan.
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History and ownership
The Lady with an Ermine, painted by Leonardo da Vinci, has had a long and tumultuous history since its creation in the late 15th century. The painting is a portrait of Cecilia Gallerani, the 17-year-old mistress of Ludovico Sforza, Duke of Milan. Leonardo was the official court painter at the time of its execution. Gallerani was born into a non-noble family and first entered the Duke's service as a lady-in-waiting, rising in prominence due to her keen intellect, education, and beauty. She was a writer of verses in Latin and Italian and was often referred to as a "great light of the Italian language".
The painting remained in Gallerani's possession, kept in her chambers at the Carmagnola Palace in Milan. After her death in 1536, the portrait's whereabouts are unclear until it was acquired in Italy in 1798 by Prince Adam George Czartoryski, the son of Izabela Czartoryska Flemming and Prince Adam Kazimierz Czartoryski. The painting became part of the Czartoryski family collections at Puławy in 1800. It is believed that the inscription "LA BELE FERONIERE. LEONARD DAWINCI." was added by a restorer during this time, before the background was overpainted.
The Lady with an Ermine has endured a turbulent journey, having been forced into exile, hidden in cellars, and even stolen by the Nazis during World War II. It was discovered by Allied troops in a country home in Bavaria in 1945 and returned to Poland a year later. The painting has since travelled extensively, being exhibited in various cities across the world, including Warsaw, Moscow, Washington, D.C., and Rome/Milan.
In 2016, the painting was sold as part of the Princes Czartoryski Collection to the Polish government for €100 million, and it now resides at the Czartoryski Museum in Kraków, one of Poland's national treasures. The museum closed for renovations in 2010 and the painting was exhibited at the National Museum in Kraków until the Czartoryski Museum reopened in 2019.
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The subject: Cecilia Gallerani
Lady with an Ermine, a painting by the Italian Renaissance artist Leonardo da Vinci, is dated to c. 1489–1491. The painting is executed in oils on a panel of walnut wood and measures 40.3 cm by 54.8 cm. The subject of the portrait is Cecilia Gallerani, the mistress of Ludovico Sforza, Duke of Milan. Gallerani was born into a non-noble family and was renowned for her beauty, scholarship, and poetry. She was married at a young age to a nobleman, but the marriage was annulled in 1487.
Gallerani entered the Duke's service as a lady-in-waiting and became a favourite due to her keen intellect, education, and beauty. She was well-versed in literature and wrote verses in Latin and Italian. Cecilia Gallerani was about sixteen years old when she sat for the portrait, and she is depicted wearing a simple dress, indicative of her non-noble birth. The painting is an allegory of love and attachment, with Gallerani imagined as an ideal of beauty.
The ermine, or stoat, in the portrait is significant for several reasons. Firstly, Ludovico Sforza was often called "the White Ermine" as he had been granted the Order of the Ermine, a type of knighthood, by the King of Naples in 1488. Secondly, the ermine may symbolise purity, as Leonardo himself associated the animal with moderation and purity. Additionally, the Ancient Greek term for ermine or weasel is similar to the first part of Gallerani's surname, "galé", further connecting the subject to the animal she holds.
The painting has had a tumultuous history, having been forced into exile, hidden in cellars, and stolen by the Nazis during World War II. It was eventually returned to Poland and is now housed at the Czartoryski Museum in Kraków, where it is considered one of Poland's national treasures.
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Symbolism and interpretation
Lady with an Ermine is a painting by the Italian Renaissance artist Leonardo da Vinci, dated to c. 1489–1491. The painting is an allegory of love and attachment, with the subject, Cecilia Gallerani, imagined as an ideal of beauty. Gallerani was the mistress of Ludovico Sforza, Duke of Milan, and Leonardo was a painter to the Sforza court in Milan at the time of the painting's execution. The ermine in the painting is rich in symbolism.
The ermine is thought to symbolise the connection between Gallerani and Sforza. Ludovico Sforza was often called "the White Ermine" as he had been granted the Order of the Ermine, a type of knighthood, by the King of Naples in 1488. The first portion of Cecilia’s surname, "galé", also sounds like "galé", meaning 'weasel' or 'ermine' in Greek. The ermine could thus be seen as a symbol of the two lovers.
The ermine also alludes to the mythical birth of Heracles. In the myth, Galanthis, a servant of Alcmene, assisted Alcmene in giving birth to Heracles, against the wishes of Hera, Heracles’ stepmother. As a punishment, Hera turned Alcmene into an ermine. The ermine in the painting may also refer to Cecilia’s pregnancy, as weasels were believed to protect pregnant women in Italian Renaissance culture, just as Ludovico protected Cecilia.
The ermine was a common motif in representations of chastity in Renaissance Italy, popularized by its appearance as an attribute of Chastity in Petrarch's poem I Trionfi. In such a context, the ermine, as a symbol of chastity, also symbolizes marital fidelity. The presence of the ermine thus points to Cecilia's connection with Ludovico as well as her upcoming marriage to Count Lodovico Bergamino.
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Frequently asked questions
The painting is 40.3 cm wide and 54.8 cm high, which is equivalent to approximately 15.86 inches wide and 21.57 inches high.
The painting is created with oil paints on a walnut board or panel. The walnut board is around 4–5 millimetres (0.16–0.20 inches) thick.
The painting is a masterpiece by the Italian Renaissance artist Leonardo da Vinci.
The painting is housed at the Czartoryski Museum in Kraków, Poland. It is one of Poland's national treasures.
