Elena Rossi
Leonardo da Vinci's Lady with an Ermine was recovered from the Nazis after World War II. The painting was acquired in Italy in 1798 by Prince Adam George Czartoryski and his family, who brought it to Poland. It was then bought by the Polish government in 2016 and is now housed at the Czartoryski Museum in Kraków.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of creation | c. 1489–1491 |
| Artist | Leonardo da Vinci |
| Medium | Oil on walnut wood |
| Dimensions | 40.3 cm x 54.8 cm |
| Current location | Czartoryski Museum, Kraków, Poland |
| Previous locations | Dresden, Berlin, Neuhaus, Milwaukee Art Museum, Houston, San Francisco, Madrid |
| Owner | Princes Czartoryski Foundation |
| Subject | Cecilia Gallerani, mistress of Ludovico Sforza, Duke of Milan |
| Acquisition | Acquired by Prince Adam Jerzy Czartoryski in Italy in 1798-1800 |
| Nazi looting | Recovered after Nazi invasion of Poland in 1939 |
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What You'll Learn
- The painting was bought by Prince Adam Jerzy Czartoryski in Italy around 1798-1800
- It was a gift for his mother, Princess Izabela Czartoryska, who founded the Czartoryski Museum in Krakow in 1796
- The painting was recovered from the Nazis after World War II
- It was restored and overpainted in the 19th century, including the addition of a caption
- It is one of only four surviving portraits of women painted by Leonardo da Vinci
The painting was bought by Prince Adam Jerzy Czartoryski in Italy around 1798-1800
The Lady with an Ermine, a painting by Leonardo da Vinci, was bought by Prince Adam Jerzy Czartoryski in Italy around 1798-1800. Prince Czartoryski was the son of Princess Izabela Czartoryska Flemming and Prince Adam Kazimierz Czartoryski. He was also a hero in the fight for Polish independence.
Prince Czartoryski bought the painting during his tour of Italy and presented it to his mother, Princess Izabela, who founded the Czartoryski Museum in 1796. Princess Izabela was a keen collector and a great patriot. The painting was incorporated into the Czartoryski family collections at Puławy in 1800. It is believed that Prince Czartoryski was aware that the painting was a Leonardo, although no record exists of any previous owner.
The Lady with an Ermine remained largely unknown to scholars until the 20th century. The painting was recovered from the Nazis after World War II and was housed at the Czartoryski Museum in Krakow, Poland. It is now one of Poland's national treasures.
In 2016, the painting was sold for €100 million to the Polish government by the Princes Czartoryski Foundation, represented by Adam Karol Czartoryski, the last direct descendant of Izabela Czartoryska Flemming and Adam George Czartoryski.
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It was a gift for his mother, Princess Izabela Czartoryska, who founded the Czartoryski Museum in Krakow in 1796
A Polish prince named Adam Jerzy Czartoryski acquired Leonardo da Vinci's "Lady with an Ermine" in 1798 as a gift for his mother, Princess Izabela Czartoryska, an art collector and founder of the Czartoryski Museum in Krakow. The museum, established in 1796, was one of the first in Europe to be open to the public, and it housed the princess's growing collection of art and historical artifacts.
Princess Izabela had a keen interest in art and culture and believed in the power of art to educate and uplift society. She had a particular fondness for Italian Renaissance art, and her son, Prince Adam, shared her passion. When he presented her with the da Vinci painting, it was a significant addition to her collection and a source of great pride.
The "Lady with an Ermine" is a portrait of Cecilia Gallerani, a young woman who was the mistress of Ludovico Sforza, the Duke of Milan, and a contemporary of Leonardo da Vinci. The painting is renowned for its delicate beauty and the intricate symbolism of the ermine, a symbol of purity and nobility. It is one of only four female portraits completed by da Vinci and is considered a masterpiece of High Renaissance art.
By gifting the painting to his mother, Prince Adam ensured that it would become a part of the cultural heritage of Poland and be appreciated by future generations. The Czartoryski Museum became a cultural landmark in Krakow, and the "Lady with an Ermine" was a star attraction, even during the turbulent times that Poland experienced over the following centuries.
The painting remained in the museum until World War II, when it was stolen by the Nazis and taken to Germany. However, thanks to the efforts of Prince Adam's descendants, it was recovered and eventually returned to Poland. Today, the "Lady with an Ermine" is back on display at the Czartoryski Museum, a testament to the enduring legacy of Princess Izabela's collection and her son's thoughtful gift.
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The painting was recovered from the Nazis after World War II
The Lady with an Ermine, a painting by Leonardo da Vinci, was recovered from the Nazis after World War II. The painting was initially purchased in 1798 by Prince Adam Czartoryski, who presented it to his mother, Princess Izabela, who founded the first art museum in Poland. The painting was acquired by the Czartoryski family in 1800 and has been housed at the Czartoryski Museum in Kraków ever since.
During World War II, the painting was stolen by the Nazis and sent to the Kaiser Friedrich Museum in Berlin. It was eventually recovered by the Office of Strategic Service's specialist art repatriation team, the Monuments Men, with the help of a French curator, Rose Valland. The recovery of the painting marked a significant cultural victory for Poland, as it is considered one of the nation's treasures.
The painting's tumultuous journey during the war is a testament to its resilience. The fact that it survived exile, hidden cellars, and theft makes its recovery all the more remarkable. When the painting was initially retrieved after the Nazi invasion, an SS soldier's footprint was found on the portrait, highlighting the dangers it had endured.
The Lady with an Ermine is a portrait of Cecilia Gallerani, the mistress of Ludovico Sforza, Duke of Milan. Leonardo da Vinci was the official court painter at the time and created this masterpiece during his first Milanese period, around 1489-1491. The painting is a captivating image of exquisite elegance, revealing the artistic genius of da Vinci's incomparable creative mind.
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It was restored and overpainted in the 19th century, including the addition of a caption
The Lady with an Ermine, a painting by Leonardo da Vinci, has had a long and tumultuous history. The painting, which is one of only four surviving portraits of women painted by Leonardo, is now considered one of Poland's national treasures. It is currently housed at the Czartoryski Museum in Kraków.
The painting was acquired in Italy in 1798 by Prince Adam George Czartoryski and incorporated into the Czartoryski family collections at Puławy in 1800. The caption "LA BELE FERONIERE. LEONARD DAWINCI." was likely added by a restorer shortly after its arrival in Poland and before the background was overpainted. This restoration is believed to have taken place in the 19th century, and included the addition of a caption and overpainting in certain areas of the work.
The background of the painting, which was originally bluish-grey, was covered in black paint during this 19th-century restoration. The painting was also subjected to overpainting in the mouth, nose, and background, with some art historians attributing this overpainting to Eugène Delacroix. The entire left side of the figure has also been repainted, and there have been alterations made to the dress and veil of the subject, as well as the shadows between the fingers of her right hand.
The Lady with an Ermine has had a turbulent past, having been walled up in hidden cellars, stolen by the Nazis during World War II, and recovered with an SS soldier's footprint on it. Despite this, the painting has been assessed as being in "'very good condition', similar to the well-preserved Mona Lisa.
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It is one of only four surviving portraits of women painted by Leonardo da Vinci
Lady with an Ermine, a portrait painting by Leonardo da Vinci, is one of only four surviving portraits of women by the artist. The painting, dated to c. 1489–1491, depicts Cecilia Gallerani, the mistress of Ludovico Sforza, Duke of Milan. Gallerani, renowned for her beauty, scholarship, and poetry, was about sixteen years old when the portrait was painted. The painting is a testament to da Vinci's fascination with portraying women beyond the superficiality of external beauty, instead exploring their personality, character, and individuality.
The other three surviving portraits of women by da Vinci are Ginevra de' Benci, La Belle Ferronnière, and the Mona Lisa. Ginevra de' Benci, housed in the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., is the only painting by da Vinci publicly displayed in the Western Hemisphere. La Belle Ferronnière, also known as La Belle Ferroniére, is believed to be the same sitter as the portrait in the Louvre, with a close resemblance noted by the Czartoryski family. The Mona Lisa, housed in the Louvre in Paris, is the world's most famous artwork, drawing thousands of visitors each day with its mysterious gaze and enigmatic smile.
Lady with an Ermine has had a tumultuous history, having been walled up in hidden cellars, stolen by the Nazis, and subjected to overpainting and damage. It was acquired in Italy in 1798 by Prince Adam George Czartoryski and incorporated into the Czartoryski family collections in 1800. The painting was part of the Princes Czartoryski Collection, which was sold to the Polish government in 2016 for €100 million. It is now housed at the Czartoryski Museum in Kraków, Poland, and is considered one of the country's national treasures.
The painting is a significant work in the history of art, as da Vinci created the first modern portrait, surpassing the traditions of his time. It showcases da Vinci's expertise in painting the human form and his innovative use of the three-quarter profile portrait. The composition captures the sitter in the motion of turning to her left, reflecting da Vinci's preoccupation with the dynamics of movement. The portrait's background, originally dark grey, was covered in black paint during a 19th-century renovation, and it has also undergone retouching and overpainting in various areas.
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Frequently asked questions
Da Vinci's 'Lady with an Ermine' was recovered from the Nazis after World War II.
After its recovery, the painting was kept at the Czartoryski Museum in Krakow, Poland.
Yes, the painting remained in Poland until 2002 when it travelled to the Milwaukee Art Museum in the United States.
The painting is now housed at the Czartoryski Museum in Kraków, Poland.
