Artwork
Bildnis einer Dame mit einem Kranich
Bildnis einer Dame mit einem Kranich is an unspecified painting by the Mannerist artist Paolo Veronese. It dates from 1550 and is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum. Created around 1550, this small-scale portrait exemplifies the Venetian Mannerist approach that flourished in the mid‑sixteenth century.
About this work
Overview
Created around 1550, this small-scale portrait exemplifies the Venetian Mannerist approach that flourished in the mid‑sixteenth century. It presents a seated woman in sumptuous attire, her figure illuminated against a dark backdrop, and is currently part of the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna.
Subject & Meaning
The sitter is shown holding a crane, a bird often associated with vigilance and fidelity in Renaissance symbolism. Her luxurious red gown, fur‑trimmed sleeves, gold‑embroidered collar, pearl jewelry and neatly arranged hair convey status and refinement, while the crane may allude to personal virtues or a specific familial emblem.
Technique & Style
The painter employs a refined chiaroscuro, allowing the light to model the woman's face and the textures of fur, fabric and feathers with subtle gradations. Fine brushwork renders the sheen of silk, the softness of fur, and the delicate plumage, creating a tactile realism that contrasts with the flat, atmospheric background.
History & Provenance
Attributed to Paolo Veronese, born Paolo Caliari in 1528, the work reflects the artist’s skill in portraiture alongside his more expansive religious and mythological commissions. It entered the Kunsthistorisches Museum's holdings in the early twentieth century, where it remains displayed as part of the museum’s Venetian Renaissance collection.
Artist & collection
Artist
Paolo Caliari (1528 – 19 April 1588), known as Paolo Veronese ( VERR-ə-NAY-zay, -zee, US also -see; Italian: ), was an Italian Renaissance painter based in Venice, known for extremely large history paintings of…
