Florentine Profile Portraits of Women

This is not the catchiest title but the subject itself is extremely interesting and is an excellent example of how visual culture can shine a light on the way women were perceived in society. Profile portraits were a common genre in the mid 15th century to 16th century and were commissioned by wealthy merchant families. The sitters today are largely anonymous but were likely young brides from high status families, who posed dressed in luxurious clothing and jewellery, serving as visual symbols of feminine purity and nobility. Image in Florentine culture was very important and the representation of a wife was a matter of family honour. 

In this episode we will analyse some examples of these portraits and will also discuss their popularity among art collectors in the 1800s and what this can tell us about the romanticisation of  history.

Sources 

Virtue and Beauty: Leonardo’s Ginevra de’ Benci and Renaissance Portraits of Women exhibition catalgoue
https://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/essay/a-profile-portrait-of-a-renaissance-woman-in-the-national-gallery-of-victoria/