Portrait of a Woman 1506

Lorenzo Lotto painted this oil on panel portrait of an unknown woman sometime in the early sixteenth century. The painting’s intimate scale and direct presentation suggest it was commissioned to commemorate a marriage or other important life event. Consider the social status conveyed through the woman's clothing. Her simple head covering and lack of jewelry indicate a life of religious devotion or modest means, yet the quality of her garments suggests a woman of some standing within her community. Lotto was a northerly Italian painter working in the cultural sphere of Venice. During this period, portraiture served to celebrate personal identity and place the sitter within a social world. Historical records such as diaries, letters, and inventories can reveal more about the culture surrounding Lotto and the world inhabited by his sitters. Through diligent study, the art historian seeks to illuminate the social and institutional forces at play during the creation of such a portrait.