Portrait of a Lady
The Evolution of Female Portraits in Renaissance Italy

The Rise of Portraiture

Prior to the Renaissance, painted portraits were virtually unheard of. During the Gothic era, art was almost exclusively religious in nature, meaning no paintings of contemporary individuals were produced. So what changed?

In short, the rise of individualism and humanism. People were still deeply religious, but they began to place more importance on their humanity, and holy figures were no longer seen as untouchable icons. Art was no longer strictly religious, and artists began to paint personal paintings and scenes inspired by ancient mythology in addition to paintings for the church. 

Portraiture began to naturally arise out of this philosophical shift. People suddenly became interested in recording their likenesses, or the face of someone they loved. However, Renaissance portraits were often full of symbolism, and strict cultural norms quickly arose around portraits, particularly female portraits. 

This essay is going to look at a collection of female portraits throughout the High Renaissance to identify and analyze some of these trends.

Early Portraits and their Ancient Inspirations

The Three-Quarters Pose & Animal Companions

Eventually, the three quarters pose became popular, and portraits became less fantastical and more lifelike. Expensive jewelry and clothing also remained popular, as those with enough money to commission portraits wanted to display their wealth. 

In female portraiture, there was also an emphasis on communicating the virtue of the sitter. External beauty was often linked to virtue, so artists continued to idealize their subjects. They also often painted women in interior settings, and the women often wore simple, restrictive hairstyles that were meant to 'contain' them. Finally, the women avoid eye contact with the viewer, looking off to the side instead of directly out. This also would have been understood as a sign of their purity.

Animals in portraits were also related to a woman's virtue. The two most famous examples, Lady with an Ermine and Young Woman with a Unicorn, show us women holding two rather unusual animals. A unicorn is perhaps a more obvious symbol of purity, as medieval legend stated that only a virgin could touch a unicorn. The ermine seems like an unusual choice, but sends a similar message. Ermines have a reputation for keeping their pure white fur clean, so the inclusion of an ermine alludes to the woman's virginity. However, ermines are also aggressive animals, so the creature could also be protecting his mistress from potential suitors. 

Mona Lisa: A Revolutionary Portrait