Northern Renaissance Animal Paintings

A masterful copy by an unknown artist, after the portrait of "Beatrice d'Este" by Leonardo Da Vinci also known as ‘Portrait of a Lady’ or ‘La Dama con la reticella di perle (The Lady With a Pearl Hairnet)’. The original work originally created in the 15th Century is currently on display in the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana Museum of Milan. Beatrice d'Este was the Duchess of Bari/Milan and was believed to be one of the most attractive princesses of the Renaissance. Her impeccable style won her many admirers throughout Italy and France, and she became a trendsetter of the highest order. This copy of the original painting, is an oil on canvas done in the 18th Century, and in this exquisite portrait, the artist has masterfully depicted the fine details with draped hair, pearls, royal dress, ornate headgear and sumptuous jewelry in front of a dark background. Once again, capturing the imagination with another enigmatic smile. It comes housed in an elegant period giltwood frame with ebonized trims and ready to be displayed with hanging wire on verso. Art measures 28 x 18 inches Frame measures 34.5 x 24.5 inches There is much debate and controversy over who actually painted the "Beatrice d'Este" was it Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519), or Giovanni Ambrogio de Predis (1455–1508). So we may never know who executed the original portrait which hangs in the museum, but that need not deter from an appreciation of its singularity. Following the portraiture convention established by painters of the Quattrocentro, the artist has chosen to portray his sitter in profile. In doing so, he magnificently captures the essence of his sitter, a girl on the threshold of womanhood. Bedecked in the adornments—silk, velvet, pearls and embroidery (brocade) crafted of spun gold threads—afforded her by birthright and marriage, Beatrice looks forward in noble serenity. And at the same time her profile with its upturned nose and slight smile betrays an innocence that must have been the basis of the oft-repeated epithet: la più zentil donna in Italia” (“the sweetest lady in Italy”). It is believed the lady is Beatrice d'Este (1475-1497), duchess of Bari and later of Milan, the wife of Ludovico Sforza (known as "il Moro"). One of the most beautiful princesses of the Italian Renaissance, she was known for her good taste in fashion. Beatrice was a member of the Este-Sforza family, which joined by marriage two of the oldest reigning and already powerful houses in Italy. The house of Este, which held court in Ferrara, traced its lineage to the 11th century Dukes of Saxony and Bavaria. Beatriceʼs father, Ercole I ruled the Ferrara commune for 34 years, catapulting the city-state (and the Estes with it) to an unmatched level of economic prosperity and cultural prominence. The family was renowned for its love of letters and patronage of the arts. The first time Leonardo da Vinci’s name resounded in the Ambrosiana, it was through the pen of its founder, Cardinal Federico Borromeo, who attributed this little panel to the great Master, describing it as “A portrait of a Duchess of Milan, by the hand of Leonardo”. Following the Cardinal’s statement, the portrait was for long assumed to depict Beatrice d’Este, the wife of Ludovico il Moro. However, scholars have recently been more cautious and vague in their statements, with regard to both the artist (anonymous Lombard or Emilian...

Antique impressionist landscape oil painting. Oil on canvas. Framed. Signed. In excellent original condition. Handsomely framed in a giltwood molding. Excellent condition, ready...

This equine racing triptych, "Down to the Wire" by artist Anne Wolff is a 24x36 original oil painting on canvas. Depicted on three separate 24x12 canvases are frontal views of thoro...

A stunning and atmospheric painting by Marius Petit (1882-1960). It dates from the 1920s, the height of the art deco period. Glorious, scintillating and beautifully coloured; it is a...

In "Case", banal, everyday things meet in this painting to create an unusual, strange, absurd and ironical situation derived by the disproportional scale size of things. Rudolf Kos...

Hunting Dog at the Ready (R) Louis Lartigau (French, 19th/20th) Oil on canvas 9 1/8 x 11 5/8 (frame) Signed lower right A very finely drawn and executed painting of a hunting dog at...

In "Investigation II", banal, everyday things meet in this painting to create an unusual, strange, absurd and ironical situation derived by the disproportional scale size of things. ...

Unframed Manuel Monedero (n. Seville in 1925 - m. Carboneras (Aracena, Huelva) in 2002) is a Spanish painter. His first exhibition dates from 1961 a...

Symbolism abounds in this remarkable painting by artist Rick Beerhorst. Here, the artist has given us not only the hummingbird covering the young girl's face while supposedly reading, but a multitude of objects at the table set out in front of her. The hummingbird, which can serve as a reminder to live in the moment and appreciate spiritual freedom, has been coupled with other objects such as a pear, a Madonna and Child portrait and an empty wine bottle...

This enchanting photograph captures the essence of an 18th-century-style portrait featuring a regal dog. Poised at attention, the canine exudes an air of majesty, adorned with a splendid blue collar that accentuates its noble bearing. This depiction seamlessly merges the grace of classical portraiture with the timeless charm of a loyal and dignified companion. Fidel Santos...

Giovanni Agostino Cassana (c.1658 – 6 May 1720) Venetian Birds with an Upturned Basket of Fruit Oil on canvas: 25 x 35 in. Frame: 33 x 43 in. The canvas is unsigned Abate, or Gio...

An oil painting of an antique weathervane in the shape of a rooster. Situated on a rustic wooden trunk, and lit from above, Lamb makes a refined i...