Who painted Portrait of an Old Woman?

Portrait of an Old Woman was painted by Sebastiano del Piombo in 1530.

Where can I see Portrait of an Old Woman?

Portrait of an Old Woman is held by Hermitage Museum.

What movement is Portrait of an Old Woman?

Portrait of an Old Woman is associated with Mannerism.

Can I buy a print of Portrait of an Old Woman?

Museum-quality prints of Portrait of an Old Woman are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Portrait of an Old Woman

Sebastiano del Piombo , 1530

Portrait of an Old Woman is an oil painting by the Mannerist artist Sebastiano del Piombo. It dates from 1530 and is held in the collection of the Hermitage Museum.

About this work

Overview

Sebastiano del Piombo, an artist who began his career in Venice before moving to Rome, executed the oil painting *Portrait of an Old Woman* in 1530. The work is classified within the Mannerist period, a phase that diverged from the balanced ideals of the High Renaissance. It currently belongs to the State Hermitage Museum’s collection.

Subject & Meaning

The canvas presents an elderly female sitter, her expression solemn and composed. She is dressed in a dark garment topped by a light-colored head covering, and she holds a small book or tablet in her left hand, a sheet of paper tucked within. The plain, dark backdrop isolates her figure, emphasizing her facial features and the introspective mood.

Technique & Style

Del Piombo employs a pronounced chiaroscuro, lighting the woman's face from the side to generate deep shadows that model her features. The transition between illuminated and dark zones is rendered with a seamless gradation, lending a palpable three‑dimensionality to the portrait. This handling of light and shade reflects the Mannerist interest in expressive surface treatment.

History & Provenance

Created in the early sixteenth century, the painting later entered the holdings of the State Hermitage Museum, where it remains on display. Its provenance traces back to the artist’s Roman period, marking a later stage of del Piombo’s career after his Venetian apprenticeship.

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Artist & collection

Artist

Sebastiano del Piombo

Sebastiano del Piombo (Italian: ; c. 1485 – 21 June 1547) was an Italian painter of the High Renaissance and early Mannerist periods, famous as the only major artist of the period to combine the colouring of the…