A Noble Lady of Pisa before 1581

Jean-Jacques Boissard made this drawing of a noble lady of Pisa with pen and brown ink wash around the late 16th century. The lady is shown in full-length, holding a pomander or aromatic object that would have served as an air freshener or protection against diseases. Drawings of this kind were important social documents in the Renaissance, representing the sitter’s status through attire and posture. The woman's elegant dress and bearing, together with Boissard’s inscription, ‘Noblis femina Pisana’, leave us in no doubt about her rank. Pisa was a city-state with its own customs and traditions. Boissard's decision to record the fashions of a noblewoman is indicative of the increased interest in civic identity during this period. As art historians, we might consult sources such as period inventories and costume books to identify the fabrics, styles, and social meanings of dress in 16th-century Italy. By doing so we can learn about the intricate ways in which Renaissance society was structured and represented.