Portrait of Princess (Pisanello)

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Portrait of Princess
Pisanello, 1435-1449
Tempera on panel
43 × 30 cm
Louvre, Paris

Portrait of Princess is a tempera on panel painting attributed to the Italian Late-Gothic master Pisanello. It was likely executed between 1435 and 1449. Also known as Portrait of a Princess of the House of Este, it is attributed to Pisanello chiefly due his stay in Ferrara in the period, where he had also finished a portrait and a celebrative medal of Marquis Leonello d'Este.

It housed in the Musée du Louvre in Paris, France.

[edit] Overview

The princess is shown in profile against a background of numerous butterflies and columbines.

The subject of the picture has been identified as Ginevra d'Este (a clue being the presence of the juniper, ginepro in language), although initially it was thought she could be Margherita Gonzaga, wife of Leonello d'Este. In fact, the flowers in the background do not contain reference to symbols of the Gonzaga, while a vase, symbol of the Este, is present. Ginevra d'Este married the condottiero and lord of Rimini Sigismondo Pandolfo Malatesta, but was killed by him when he discovered her infidelities. The presence of the columbine (symbol of marriage but also of death), has led to the hypotesis that the painting was executed by Pisanello after her death, in the 1440s.

The butterfly near the princess' brow is a symbol of the soul.