Portrait of a Lady 1623

Ottavio Leoni's "Portrait of a Lady" (1623) is a delicate pastel drawing depicting an unknown woman. The artist, known for his portraits of Italian nobility, captures the subject with meticulous detail, emphasizing her refined features and fashionable attire. The use of soft pastel tones creates a subtle, almost ethereal quality, adding a layer of intimacy to the portrait. This small-scale work, measuring only 22.8 x 16 cm, showcases Leoni's mastery of portraiture and his ability to convey personality through nuanced strokes. The drawing exemplifies the refined aesthetics of 17th-century Italian art, highlighting the prevailing trends in portraiture during this period.