Artwork
Woman with a Dove
Woman with a Dove is an oil painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Cecco del Caravaggio. It dates from 1615 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.
About this work
Overview
Cecco del Caravaggio’s oil painting Woman with a Dove, executed in 1615, portrays a seated woman surrounded by birds and modest floral elements. The work is part of the collection of the Museo del Prado in Madrid, where it is displayed among other early‑Baroque pieces.
Subject & Meaning
The central figure holds a small bird in her left hand while a white dove rests on the floor nearby; a blackbird is shown pecking at the ground. The woman’s calm, serious expression and the inclusion of both dove and blackbird have been interpreted as symbolic references to peace and perhaps domestic virtue.
Technique & Style
Rendered in oil on canvas, the composition relies on pronounced chiaroscuro, with deep shadows that isolate the woman’s face and hands from a dark backdrop. This dramatic use of light, characteristic of early 17th‑century Italian painting, enhances the tactile quality of the fabrics and the texture of the birds.
History & Provenance
Created in 1615, the painting entered the Spanish royal collection before being transferred to the Prado Museum, where it remains. Documentation traces its ownership through the 18th and 19th centuries, confirming its attribution to Cecco del Caravaggio, a follower of Caravaggio’s naturalistic style.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Cecco del Caravaggio is the Notname given to a painter who worked in Rome in the early decades of the 17th century and was an important early follower of Caravaggio (1571–1610).
