Portrait of a Woman
Piero del Pollaiuolo·1470
Historical Context
This circa 1470 Portrait of a Woman at the Metropolitan Museum is among the finest Florentine profile portraits of the fifteenth century, whether attributed to Piero del Pollaiuolo or to the broader circle of Pollaiuolo-influenced Florentine painters. The profile format's derivation from antique coins gave female portraiture an association with classical commemorative tradition — the woman's profile presented as a medallion-like emblem of beauty and social status. The elaborate plaited hairstyle, jewelry, and fine fabric of the sitter's dress document the material culture of wealthy Florentine women in the 1470s, when the Medici peace created conditions for the extraordinary flourishing of arts and crafts in the city.
Technical Analysis
The profile composition emphasizes the elegant contour of the sitter's face and the elaborate arrangement of her hair and jewels, rendered with the gem-like precision characteristic of the Pollaiuolo workshop's refined technique.
