Portrait of a Woman
probably 1450s
Medium
Tempera and gold on canvas, transferred from wood
Dimensions
15 3/4 x 10 3/4 in. (40 x 27.3 cm)
Classification
Paintings
Department
European Paintings
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Jules Bache Collection, 1949
Accession Number
49.7.6
Rights
Public Domain
Tags
Art Historical Context
Behold the *Portrait of a Woman* the Master of the Castello Nativity an enigmatic Florentine artist active in 1450s. This panel, measuring just 15¾ x 10¾ inches, captures a poised female figure in strict profile—a nod to ancient Roman coins and Renaissance fascination with classical antiquity. Likely painted in tempera with lavish gold accents on a wooden panel (later transferred to canvas for preservation it exemplifies early Renaissance techniques: the luminous gold leaf evokes divine radiance, while tempera's fine detail allows for exquisite rendering of fabrics and jewelry. Created amid F...