Paintings
La Belle Ferronnière
Leonardo da Vinci (attributed)
c. 1490–1497
A young woman in a rich red dress looks sideways out of the picture from behind a stone parapet, with a thin band across her forehead. The direction of her gaze and the turn of her body give a sense of movement and psychological immediacy. Her fine features and sober background convey a quiet yet commanding presence.
Historical Context
The sitter’s identity is debated; candidates include Lucrezia Crivelli or Beatrice d’Este, both connected with the Sforza court in Milan. The title comes from a mistaken identification with the mistress of Francis I, the wife of a “ferronnier” (ironmonger). Some scholars attribute the painting to a follower of Leonardo, though it is traditionally catalogued under his name.
Provenance
In the French royal collection by the seventeenth century; it has been in the Louvre since the Revolution.
Details
- Medium
- Oil on walnut panel
- Dimensions
- 63 × 45 cm
- Department
- Paintings
- Period / Era
- Renaissance
- Origin
- Italy (Milan)
- Location in museum
- Denon Wing, First Floor — Grande Galerie
About the Artist
Leonardo da Vinci (attributed)
Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519) served the Sforza court in Milan for nearly two decades, painting portraits such as this one and the Lady with an Ermine. His approach to portraiture, which stressed psychology and movement, influenced painters across Italy.