St. Gertrude de Nivelles, from the Hours of Cardinal Albrecht of Brandenburg (1490-1545), Archibishop and Elector of Mainz

Dating to 1523, the portrait demonstrates the portrait tradition that Simon Bening contributed to within the High Renaissance. Painted at the height of the High Renaissance, the work balances individual likeness with the idealized presentation expected by sixteenth-century patrons. The first decades of the sixteenth century saw Italian art reach a level of grandeur and idealization that contemporaries recognized as surpassing even the achievements of classical antiquity.

Tempera technique, reflecting earlier traditions, the portrait demonstrates Simon Bening's command of skilled technique and careful observation. The careful modeling of the face reveals close study of the sitter's physiognomy, while the treatment of costume and setting projects appropriate social standing.