Medaillon-portræt. Formentlig Sibylla Meiting, Ulrich Ebingers hustru 1523 - 1560

This small wooden medallion portrait, possibly of Sibylla Meiting, was carved by Christoph Weiditz. The portrait is defined by its circular composition, framed in concentric rings of dark wood, focusing our attention on the sitter’s profile. The artist skillfully uses the wood grain to delineate form and texture, emphasizing the sitter's elaborate headdress and layered necklaces. Consider how the tight circular frame might relate to historical ideals of beauty and containment, reflecting the subject's social position within a structured world. The profile view, stark and unyielding, invites contemplation of the individual within the constraints of societal expectation. The lines of the carving are precise, yet the wood's natural texture introduces an element of organic imperfection. The use of wood, a material with inherent warmth, contrasts with the coolness of the sitter's gaze, creating a tension that speaks to the complex interplay between surface appearance and interior life. The artwork's intimate scale encourages a close, personal encounter, further emphasizing the sitter's presence.