La Scapigliata facts for kids
Quick facts for kids La Scapigliata |
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| English: The Lady with Dishevelled Hair | |
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| Artist | Leonardo da Vinci |
| Year | c. 1506–1508 (unfinished) |
| Medium | Oil, umber, and white lead pigments on poplar wood panel |
| Dimensions | 24.7 cm × 21 cm (9.7 in × 8.3 in) |
| Location | Galleria Nazionale, Parma |
La Scapigliata (Italian for 'The Lady with Dishevelled Hair') is a beautiful and mysterious painting. Its name means "The Lady with Dishevelled Hair" in Italian. Many people believe it was painted by the famous Italian artist Leonardo da Vinci around 1506–1508. However, some art experts think it might have been painted by one of his talented students.
This artwork is special because it looks unfinished. It shows a young woman looking down, with her hair flowing wildly around her. People love its captivating beauty and the way Leonardo used a special technique called sfumato to make it look soft and dreamlike.
We don't know for sure who the woman in the painting is, or why Leonardo created it. Some think it was a study for another painting, like one of Saint Anne or Leda and the Swan. Others believe Leonardo might have left it unfinished on purpose, because it looked beautiful that way.
Today, "La Scapigliata" is kept in the Galleria Nazionale di Parma in Italy. Records show it was sold in 1826, but it might have been around much earlier. It was possibly owned by a powerful woman named Isabella d'Este in 1531.
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What's in a Name?
This painting doesn't have an official title. Instead, it's known by its nickname, "La Scapigliata." This Italian phrase means "The Lady with Dishevelled Hair." It perfectly describes the woman in the painting, whose hair looks wonderfully messy and flowing.
Over time, people have called it by other names too. These include "Head of a Woman" or "Portrait of a Maiden." But "La Scapigliata" is the name that stuck!
What Does "La Scapigliata" Look Like?
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This artwork is quite small, about the size of a piece of notebook paper. It's painted on a wooden panel using oil paints. It portrays a young woman's face, gently looking downwards. Her hair is loose and seems to float around her head.
Her eyes are partly closed, and she seems lost in thought. Her mouth has a slight, mysterious smile, much like the famous Mona Lisa.
What makes this painting so interesting is that only the woman's face is fully painted. The rest of the artwork, including the background, is just a light sketch. This contrast between the finished face and the sketched parts makes the painting unique.
The Magic of Sfumato
Leonardo da Vinci was a master of a technique called sfumato (pronounced sfoo-MAH-toh). This word means "soft" or "blended" in Italian. He used it to create smooth transitions between colors and shadows. In "La Scapigliata," sfumato makes the woman's face look incredibly soft and lifelike. You can't see any harsh lines or brushstrokes. It's like looking through a gentle mist.
Some art experts wonder if Leonardo left the painting unfinished on purpose. Perhaps he wanted to show the beauty of a work in progress. Or maybe the contrast between the finished face and the sketched hair was part of his artistic vision.
Who is the Mysterious Woman?
No one knows for sure who the woman in "La Scapigliata" is. Many ideas have been suggested over the years. Some think it might be a study for a painting of Saint Anne. Or perhaps for Leonardo's lost artwork, Leda and the Swan.
However, none of these theories have been proven. It's possible she was simply an unknown woman whose beauty inspired Leonardo. Her identity remains one of the painting's many secrets.
When Was "La Scapigliata" Painted?
Most art historians believe Leonardo painted "La Scapigliata" between 1506 and 1508. They figure this out by comparing its style to other paintings he made around that time. These include works like The Virgin and Child with Saint Anne and Saint John the Baptist.
However, some experts, like Carmen Bambach, suggest it might have been painted a bit earlier, between 1500 and 1505. This is because she thinks a man named Agostino Vespucci might have asked Leonardo to create it then.
The Journey of "La Scapigliata"
We don't have official papers saying who asked Leonardo to paint "La Scapigliata." But because it feels so personal, many think it was made for a private art collector.
Isabella d'Este's Connection
One popular idea is that a powerful woman named Isabella d'Este ordered the painting. She was a very important figure in Italy during the Italian Renaissance. Isabella loved art and had asked Leonardo for a painting before.
It's thought that Isabella might have given "La Scapigliata" to her son, Federico II, for his wedding. A letter from 1531 mentions a painting like "La Scapigliata" in Federico's bedroom. An old list of artworks from the Gonzaga family in 1531 also describes a painting that sounds like "La Scapigliata."
Later, in 1627, another list described a painting as "A painting depicts the head of a dishevelled woman... by Leonardo da Vinci." This is likely where the painting got its famous nickname!
Lost and Found
The painting might have been lost or taken from the Gonzaga collection around 1630. For a long time, its location was unknown.
Then, in 1826, the painting reappeared! An artist named Gaetano Callani had it in his collection. His son offered it for sale to an art gallery in Parma, Italy. In 1839, the gallery bought it.
Since then, "La Scapigliata" has been a treasured artwork at the Galleria Nazionale di Parma. It's considered a very special piece by Leonardo da Vinci, admired by people all over the world.
