| National Gallery of Art

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Admission is always free

6th and Constitution Ave NW
Washington, DC 20565

Must-Sees at the National Gallery

Make the most of your visit
Learn more
Exhibitions & Events
America’s 250th

Celebrating American art and artists
Art & Artists
West to East

Discover how artists across America have been inspired by the places they call home.
Start the series

Open 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

Visit
Admission is always free

6th and Constitution Ave NW
Washington, DC 20565

Must-Sees at the National Gallery

Make the most of your visit
Learn more
Exhibitions & Events
America’s 250th

Celebrating American art and artists
Art & Artists
West to East

Discover how artists across America have been inspired by the places they call home.
Start the series

Scholarly Article

Italian Paintings of the Sixteenth Century: Emilia di Spilimbergo, c. 1560

March 21, 2019

by:

Peter Humfrey

Scholarly Article

Italian Paintings of the Sixteenth Century: Woman Holding an Apple, c. 1550

March 21, 2019

by:

Peter Humfrey

Scholarly Article

Italian Paintings of the Sixteenth Century: Allegory of Love, c. 1520/1540

March 21, 2019

by:

Peter Humfrey

Scholarly Article

Italian Paintings of the Sixteenth Century: Susanna, c. 1580s

March 21, 2019

by:

Robert Echols

Scholarly Article

Italian Paintings of the Sixteenth Century: Cupid with the Wheel of Time, c. 1515/1520

March 21, 2019

by:

Peter Humfrey

Scholarly Article

Italian Paintings of the Sixteenth Century: The Worship of the Golden Calf, c. 1594

March 21, 2019

by:

Robert Echols

Scholarly Article

Italian Paintings of the Sixteenth Century: Portrait of a Man as Saint George, c. 1620s

March 21, 2019

by:

Robert Echols

Scholarly Article

Italian Paintings of the Sixteenth Century: The Finding of Moses, c. 1581/1582

March 21, 2019

by:

Peter Humfrey

Scholarly Article

Italian Paintings of the Sixteenth Century: Andrea de' Franceschi, late 16th or early 17th century

March 21, 2019

by:

Peter Humfrey

Scholarly Article

Italian Paintings of the Sixteenth Century: Venus with a Mirror, c. 1555

March 21, 2019

by:

Peter Humfrey

A partially nude woman with pale, peachy skin sits to our left looking into a mirror held up by a nearly nude, winged child to our right in this vertical painting. The woman’s body is angled to our left but she looks across her body to our right. She holds her left hand to her chest, and her right hand grips the fur-lined edge of the scarlet-red, velvet fabric that drapes over that upper arm and around her hips. Her blond hair is coiled up in rows of pearls, and she has dark eyes, a straight nose, and her pale pink lips turn up in a subtle smile. A teardrop pearl earring hangs from the ear we can see, and she wears rings and gold bracelets. The child-like figure to the right stands on a gold-striped cushion facing away from us as he holds up the rectangular, black-framed mirror. He has small silver wings and a sash of golden yellow hangs from one shoulder around the opposite hip. A second child reaches from behind the mirror to hold up a ring of laurel leaves. A forest-green curtain is gathered in the upper left corner and the beige wall beyond falls into shadow to our right.