Who painted Woman Holding Two Tablets (the Cumaean Sibyl?)?

Woman Holding Two Tablets (the Cumaean Sibyl?) was painted by Bonifazio Veronese in 1530.

Where can I see Woman Holding Two Tablets (the Cumaean Sibyl?)?

Woman Holding Two Tablets (the Cumaean Sibyl?) is held by Museum of Fine Arts Boston.

What movement is Woman Holding Two Tablets (the Cumaean Sibyl?)?

Woman Holding Two Tablets (the Cumaean Sibyl?) is associated with Mannerism.

Can I buy a print of Woman Holding Two Tablets (the Cumaean Sibyl?)?

Museum-quality prints of Woman Holding Two Tablets (the Cumaean Sibyl?) are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Woman Holding Two Tablets (the Cumaean Sibyl?)

Bonifazio Veronese , 1530

Woman Holding Two Tablets (the Cumaean Sibyl?) is an oil painting by the Mannerist artist Bonifazio Veronese. It dates from 1530 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston.

About this work

Overview

Created around 1530 by the Venetian painter Bonifazio Veronese, this oil on canvas belongs to the Mannerist period. The work presents a solitary female figure against an unadorned dark backdrop, her pose centered and her gaze directed toward the viewer. It is currently part of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston’s collection.

Subject & Meaning

The sitter holds two flat tablets, a motif that has led scholars to identify her as the Cumaean Sibyl, the prophetic priestess of ancient myth. The ambiguous title reflects ongoing debate about the figure’s identity, but the inclusion of the tablets underscores themes of knowledge and revelation common in Renaissance depictions of sibyls.

Technique & Style

Veronese employs a subtle chiaroscuro, allowing light to caress the skin and richly colored garments while the surrounding space recedes into shadow. Thick, impasto brushwork is evident on the voluminous sleeves and high collar, creating tactile surface variation. The composition’s elongated proportions and elegant pose are characteristic of Mannerist aesthetics.

History & Provenance

The painting entered the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, through acquisition in the early twentieth century, though earlier ownership records are sparse. Bonifazio Veronese’s oeuvre influenced later Venetian artists such as Andrea Schiavone and Jacopo Tintoretto, situating this work within a lineage of regional stylistic development.