An Old Woman (The Ugly Duchess) 1513

"An Old Woman (The Ugly Duchess)" is an oil painting by Quentin Matsys, a prominent Northern Renaissance artist, created in 1513. The artwork portrays an elderly woman with a pronounced, deformed face, capturing the grotesque realism that characterized Matsys' work. Her exaggerated features and opulent, yet worn, clothing contrast starkly, conveying a sense of both wealth and decline. Now in the National Gallery, London, this painting is a significant example of the artist's ability to depict the human form with unflinching honesty, challenging traditional notions of beauty.