Portrait of Maria De' Medici (or Eleonora Di Garzia Di Toledo) 

Alessandro Allori painted this oil on panel portrait in Florence, sometime in the late 16th century. The sitter is most likely Maria de Medici, a member of the powerful Florentine family. The image presents us with an ideal of feminine beauty and aristocratic virtue, conforming to the expectations of the Medici court. Note the refined features, pale skin, and elaborate dress, signifiers of wealth and status. Consider also the closed book she holds, perhaps a prayer book, emblemizing piety and learning. Allori was himself an important figure in the Florentine art world, and the institutional culture of the court, which heavily influenced artistic production. His painting reflects the values and interests of his patrons, reinforcing their social position. Further research into Florentine court culture, as well as Medici family archives, could tell us much more about the specifics of this portrait and its place in the political theater of the time.