Catherine de' Medici

Catherine de’ Medici’s portrait of Étienne Delafons shows a man in dark clothing against a plain background—simple, direct, and probably made in the 1500s. The painting belongs to the French Renaissance, when artists favored lifelike faces and dark tones. Look for the single gold chain around the man’s neck; it marks his rank. Tap the portrait to see how light falls on the fabric folds.