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| museum=Czartoryski Museum]], [[Kraków}} | museum=Czartoryski Museum]], [[Kraków}}


The '''''Lady with an Ermine''''' is a ] painting by ]. It is a painting of ], who was the mistress of ] of ]. It is one of only three female portraits he painted, and is in better condition than most of his other paintings: a door in the background was overpainted, a transparent veil on the model's head was turned to an extravagant hairdo, and several fingers were grossly retouched. The '''''Lady with an Ermine''''' is a ] painting by ]. Its subject is ], the mistress of ], Duke of ]. The painting is one of only three female portraits Leonardo painted. Despite sustaining much damage – a door in the background was overpainted, a transparent veil on the model's head was turned into an extravagant hairdo and several fingers were grossly retouched – it is nonetheless in better condition than many of Leonardo's other paintings.


Leonardo met Cecilia Gallerani in Milan in ] while both were living in ], the Palace of Ludovico "Il Moro" ]. She was the Duke's mistress; young and beautiful (she was only 17 years old), Cecilia played music and wrote poetry. When he was commissioned to paint her portrait in 1485, he represented her holding an ] either as a pun on her name (the Greek for ermine is ''galay'') or because Ludovico Sforza's emblem was "L'Ermellino", though it is also read as a symbol of purity. Leonardo met Cecilia Gallerani in Milan in ] while both were living in ], the Palace of Lodovico Sforza or "''Il Moro''". She was the Duke's mistress; young and beautiful (she was only 17 years old), Cecilia played music and wrote poetry. Several interpretations of the significance of the ] in her portrait are possible. It has been read as a symbol of purity or of Il Moro, whose emblem was "''L'Ermellino''", a little ermine. Alternatively, it could be a pun her name (the Greek for ermine is ''galay'').


As in many of Leonardo's portraits the composition comprises of a pyramidic spiral and the sitter is caught in the motion of turning to her left, reflecting Leonardo's life-long preoccupation with the dynamics of movement. Il Moro's court poet, ], was the first to propose that Cecilia is poised as if listening to an unseen speaker.
The painting was acquired by ], the son of ] and ] in ] in ] and incorporated into The Czartoryskis’ family collections in ]. The painting is currently on display at the ] in ], ].


The painting was acquired by ], the son of ] and ] in ] in ] and incorporated into The Czartoryskis’ family collections in ]. Almost immediately after the German occupation of ] in ] it was seized by the ] and sent to the ] in ]. In ] ], the Governor General of Poland, requested that it be returned to ], where it hung in his suite of offices. At the end of the ] it was discovered by Allied troops in Frank's country home in ]. It has since returned to Poland and is currently on display at the ] in Kraków.
⚫ It is the inspiration for the parody ''Woman Holding Ferret'' by ] in the ] series of books.

⚫ Leonardo's painting is the inspiration for the parody ''Woman Holding Ferret'' by ] in the ] series of books.


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Revision as of 19:24, 11 July 2005

{{Painting| image_file=The_Lady_with_an_Ermine.jpg | title=Lady with an Ermine | artist=Leonardo da Vinci | year=1485 | type=oil on wood panel | height=54 | width=39 | museum=Czartoryski Museum]], [[Kraków}}

The Lady with an Ermine is a 1485 painting by Leonardo da Vinci. Its subject is Cecilia Gallerani, the mistress of Lodovico Sforza, Duke of Milan. The painting is one of only three female portraits Leonardo painted. Despite sustaining much damage – a door in the background was overpainted, a transparent veil on the model's head was turned into an extravagant hairdo and several fingers were grossly retouched – it is nonetheless in better condition than many of Leonardo's other paintings.

Leonardo met Cecilia Gallerani in Milan in 1484 while both were living in Castello Sforzesco, the Palace of Lodovico Sforza or "Il Moro". She was the Duke's mistress; young and beautiful (she was only 17 years old), Cecilia played music and wrote poetry. Several interpretations of the significance of the ermine in her portrait are possible. It has been read as a symbol of purity or of Il Moro, whose emblem was "L'Ermellino", a little ermine. Alternatively, it could be a pun her name (the Greek for ermine is galay).

As in many of Leonardo's portraits the composition comprises of a pyramidic spiral and the sitter is caught in the motion of turning to her left, reflecting Leonardo's life-long preoccupation with the dynamics of movement. Il Moro's court poet, Bernando Bellincioli, was the first to propose that Cecilia is poised as if listening to an unseen speaker.

The painting was acquired by Adam Jerzy Czartoryski, the son of Izabela Czartoryska and Adam Kazimierz Czartoryski in Italy in 1798 and incorporated into The Czartoryskis’ family collections in 1800. Almost immediately after the German occupation of Poland in 1939 it was seized by the Nazis and sent to the Kaiser Friedrich Museum in Berlin. In 1940 Hans Frank, the Governor General of Poland, requested that it be returned to Kraków, where it hung in his suite of offices. At the end of the Second World War it was discovered by Allied troops in Frank's country home in Bavaria. It has since returned to Poland and is currently on display at the Czartoryski Museum in Kraków.

Leonardo's painting is the inspiration for the parody Woman Holding Ferret by Leonard of Quirm in the Discworld series of books.

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