Portrait of a Lady in a Rust Dress with a Small Dog 

Alessandro Allori created this portrait with oil paint, likely on canvas, during the late Renaissance. The medium of oil is crucial here. It allowed Allori to build up thin layers of color, achieving the lustrous fabric effects that would have signaled the sitter’s high social standing. The very particular shade of her dress is beautifully rendered, and the lace collar is painted with incredible detail – indications of the dressmaker’s and lacemaker's skill, and the merchant’s wealth. Think about it: the cost of pigments, canvas, brushes – and of course, Allori’s time – all of this was underwritten by a network of economic activity. Even the pearls around the sitter’s neck, or the glass vase holding roses, speak to global trade and sophisticated craft production. Ultimately, this portrait is more than just a likeness; it’s a material record of Renaissance society, and how it saw itself.