Portrait of a Woman c. 1495

This half-length portrait of a woman, attributed to the Florentine painter Benedetto Ghirlandaio, is a fine example of Italian Renaissance portraiture. The sitter is depicted in a simple, elegant pose, wearing a white head covering, a brown gown with a red bodice, and a pearl necklace. Her calm and dignified expression gives the viewer a glimpse into the character of the woman portrayed. While the sitter remains unidentified, the painting offers a window into the fashion and culture of late 15th-century Florence.