Lady with an Ermine...
6:48 p.m.
Lady with an Ermine, by Leonardo Da Vinci (ca. 1490)
Walnut board - MNK
The sitter for this painting by Leonardo Da Vinci (Italy, 1452-1519) was Cecilia Gallerani. It is said she was not only beautiful, but she was also part of an aristocratic family of Sienna and educated in the arts, music and literature. This made her the favorite of the Duke of Sforza, who commissioned her portrait to the Renaissance Master circa 1490.
Cecilia is holding a small ermine, which looks like a white weasel. According to the signs in the gallery, there's no such animal in Nature, but it was part of the Duke's coat of arms. She is posing slightly turned, as if Leonardo had frozen her in mid movement. Her face looking to the left suggests that she is listening to something we can not see, a murmur in some next room, which makes her smile a bit.
The painting is in good shape, in spite of the visible restoration in the top left corner and the thick layer of varnish to hide the cracks. It is suggested that the background was painted black to maybe hide some other symbolism associated with the Duke.
A timeline outside the gallery tells us that, in 1800, Lady with an Ermine was bought by the Czartoryskich family of Kracow, but today is part of the National Museum's permanent collection.
The painting is not on display constantly, it is just exhibited some weeks every year due to its historic and artistic importance and its incalculable value. Last month the painting was once again presented to the public. Even though photography was forbidden, the lights were off, armed security personnel protected it and museum staff prevented close ups, Leonardo's aura could still be felt.
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