She is a well born lady of unquestioned virtue, daughter of the ultimate genius. In beauty not as celebrated as her younger sister, her chastity is proclaimed with a crown of junipers. She lived in a merchant empire, moved to a princely estate and now resides in the ultimate seat of power. Her face may not be as welcoming, but she is highly valued. For unlike any of her sisters, even the one with the enigmatic, some say vacuous, smile, she alone actually has something behind the gaze. Who is she and what make her unique?

lanfranco

This is Ginevra de' Benci, painted by Leonardo da Vinci. The painting is in the National Gallery in Washington D.C. and has a motto on the back, "Beauty Adorns Virtue." The juniper is probably a reference to the name "Ginevra." The painting has been cut down, so we cannot see it in its entirety today. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ginevra_de'_Benci Aug 05 08, 4:25 PM

edmund80

Yes ! Also, of the 27 or so paintings attributed to da Vinci, this is the only one that is a 2-sided (obverse and reverse) painting, making it quite unique and priceless among his existing oeuvre ( "she has something behind her gaze" ---- on the other side of the wood panel, that is) You can read more at : http://www.lairweb.org.nz/leonardo/female.htm Aug 05 08, 9:50 PM