The Head of a Woman

Let's continue our trip to Renaissance Italy. Jacopo Ligozzi was an Italian painter, illustrator, designer, and miniaturist. Today, we present a beautiful Head of a Woman. As you can see, she has a pearl headdress, depicted in a meticulously executed profile.

This drawing dates to Ligozzi’s tenure at the Medici Court in Florence, where he was summoned in 1577. Under the patronage of the Grand Duke of Tuscany, Francesco I de’ Medici, Ligozzi engaged in numerous artistic endeavors, from painting portraits of court members to designing theater sets, tapestries, and furniture.

Ligozzi’s background as a miniaturist is evident in the exceptional detail of this profile, from the delicate crosshatching in the shadows to the flowing hair and intricately rendered pearls adorning the sitter’s headdress. Executed in pen and ink, this composition leaves no margin for error, exemplifying both the precision and elegance characteristic of the period’s artistic style.

Who was this woman? We don't know, and we probably never will. But we know some of the stunning, strong, and intelligent women of the Renaissance, who overcame the suffocating social rules of their lives. You can learn about them in our Art of Renaissance Florence online course. 

P.S. Throughout the centuries women played a great role in art as artists, muses, and models. Can you guess who painted these famous women in our quiz? Once you're finished, try out our Renaissance QUIZ!