Laura (Giorgione)

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Portrait of a Young Bride (Laura)
Giorgione, c. 1506
Oil on canvas transferred on wood
41 × 33,5 cm
Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna

The Portrait of a Young Bride, also known as Laura, is a painting by the Italian Renaissance master Giorgione, c. 1506. It is housed in the Kunsthistorisches Museum of Vienna, Austria.

This painting is the only work signed and dated by Giorgione. It portrays a young bride backed by a branch of laurus, symbol of chastity, and carrying the nuptial veil. The gesture of opening the fur mantle to uncover the bosom indicates fecundity (and, therefore, maternity), as an offer of love and seduction.

This work marked the abandon of Giovanni Bellini's models by Giorgione, to embrace Leonardesque manners.

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