Artwork
Profile Portrait of a Young Lady
Profile Portrait of a Young Lady is an oil painting by the Early Renaissance artist Piero del Pollaiuolo. It dates from 1465 and is held in the collection of the Gemäldegalerie Berlin. Created in 1465, this half‑length portrait depicts a young woman in profile on a poplar panel.
About this work
This small oil painting shows a young woman in profile. The artist uses fine brushwork to make her face lifelike. The dark background keeps our focus on her.
It was made in 1465—one of the earliest Italian portraits to use oil paint. That lets the artist layer color in a new way, so skin looks soft and real.
Look next at Piero del Pollaiuolo.
Overview
Created in 1465, this half‑length portrait depicts a young woman in profile on a poplar panel. Rendered in oil and tempera, the work measures only a few centimeters and is held by the Gemäldegalerie in Berlin. It is frequently cited as an early example of Italian portraiture employing oil paint, a medium still novel in the mid‑15th century.
Context
While traditionally linked to Antonio del Pollaiuolo, the museum now credits the painting to his brother Piero del Pollaiuolo. The reassignment reflects recent scholarly consensus based on stylistic analysis and archival evidence, positioning the work within Piero’s modest but significant output during the Florentine Renaissance.
Technique & Style
The artist combined oil with tempera on a smooth poplar surface, allowing delicate layering that renders the sitter’s skin with a subtle translucency. Fine brushwork defines the profile’s contours, while a dark, unadorned background eliminates distraction, directing attention to the figure’s facial expression and the nuanced play of light.
Legacy
Recognized as one of the most renowned early Renaissance portraits of a woman, the painting continues to inform studies of gender representation and technical innovation in 15th‑century Florence. Its presence in a major European collection underscores its lasting scholarly and curatorial importance.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Piero del Pollaiuolo (UK: POL-eye-WOH-loh, US: POHL-, Italian: ; also spelled Pollaiolo; c.
