Portrait of a Woman
probably 1450s
Medium
Tempera and gold on canvas, transferred from wood
Dimensions
15 3/4 x 10 3/4 in. (40 x 27.3 cm)
Classification
Paintings
Department
European Paintings
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Jules Bache Collection, 1949
Accession Number
49.7.6
Tags
Art Historical Context
Behold the *Portrait of a Woman* the Master of the Castello Nativity an enigmatic Florentine artist active in 1450s. This panel, measuring just 15¾ x 10¾ inches, captures a poised female figure in strict profile—a nod to ancient Roman coins and Renaissance fascination with classical antiquity. Likely painted in tempera with lavish gold accents on a wooden panel (later transferred to canvas for preservation it exemplifies early Renaissance techniques: the luminous gold leaf evokes divine radiance, while tempera's fine detail allows for exquisite rendering of fabrics and jewelry. Created amid F...