Maddalena Strozzi Doni c. 19th century

Editor: This is Samuele Jesi's "Maddalena Strozzi Doni," housed at the Harvard Art Museums. It is striking how her gaze seems both direct and distant. What historical narratives do you see reflected in this portrait? Curator: It's crucial to consider the constraints placed upon women of her status during the Renaissance. This portrait, commissioned upon her marriage, becomes a statement of dynastic alliance and wealth. Her gaze, then, is less about personal expression and more about embodying ideals of feminine virtue and social decorum within a patriarchal structure. Editor: So, is it less about her as an individual, and more about her role? Curator: Precisely. Consider the jewelry, the dress; these are all signifiers of her family's status and her role in continuing their lineage. The portrait performs a function within a system of power. Editor: That gives me a lot to think about, especially regarding female representation in art then and now.