Flora (recto); Mountainous Landscape with Buildings (verso) 1500 - 1600

This anonymous drawing, created sometime between 1500 and 1600, depicts a female figure, possibly Flora, the Roman goddess of flowers, in a flowing gown with a wreath of flowers in her hair. She holds a bunch of grapes in one hand and a basket of flowers in the other. The detailed rendering of the figure's anatomy and drapery suggests a skillful hand and indicates the artist's mastery of the Renaissance drawing style. This small-scale drawing, housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, provides a glimpse into the artistic practices of the period and the fascination with classical mythology.