Lady with an Ermine facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lady with an Ermine |
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| Italian: Dama con l'ermellino, Polish: Dama z gronostajem | |
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| Artist | Leonardo da Vinci |
| Year | 1489–90 |
| Type | Oil on wood panel |
| Subject | Cecilia Gallerani |
| Dimensions | 54 cm × 39 cm (21 in × 15 in) |
| Location | National Museum, Kraków, Poland |
Lady with an Ermine (Portrait of Cecilia Gallerani) (Italian: Dama con l'ermellino Polish: Dama z gronostajem) is a famous painting by Leonardo da Vinci. He painted it around 1489 and 1490. The painting shows a young woman named Cecilia Gallerani. She was a friend of Ludovico Sforza, who was the Duke of Milan. Leonardo worked for the Duke when he painted this portrait.
The painting also features an ermine, which is a small animal. For Leonardo, the ermine was a symbol of purity. Today, Lady with an Ermine is on display in the Czartoryski Museum in Kraków, Poland. It is one of Leonardo's most well-known works.
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About the Lady with an Ermine Painting
This painting is one of only four portraits of women painted by Leonardo da Vinci. It is painted with oil on a wooden panel. The painting is quite small, measuring 54 centimeters (about 21 inches) tall and 39 centimeters (about 15 inches) wide. It is known for its detailed brushwork and the lifelike way it captures Cecilia's expression.
Who Was Cecilia Gallerani?
Cecilia Gallerani was a young woman from Milan, Italy. She was known for her beauty and intelligence. She was also talented in music and poetry. She was about 16 years old when Leonardo painted her portrait. This painting helped make her famous throughout history.
The Meaning of the Ermine
The ermine in the painting is a type of weasel. It has a beautiful white coat in winter. In Leonardo's time, the ermine was a symbol of purity and honor. It was also a symbol for Ludovico Sforza, the Duke of Milan. He had been given the title "Order of the Ermine" by the King of Naples. This might be why an ermine was included in Cecilia's portrait.
How Leonardo Painted It
Leonardo used a technique called sfumato in this painting. This means he blended colors and tones very smoothly. It creates a soft, hazy look. This technique makes the figures seem to emerge from the shadows. It gives the painting a sense of depth and realism. He also paid great attention to light and shadow. This makes Cecilia and the ermine look very real.
The Painting's Journey Through History
The Lady with an Ermine has a long and interesting history. It was owned by many different people over the centuries. In the early 1800s, it was bought by Prince Adam Jerzy Czartoryski. He was a Polish nobleman. The painting has been in Poland ever since.
During World War II, the painting was taken by the Nazis. They wanted to add it to Hitler's art collection. Luckily, it was found after the war by a group called the "Monuments Men." These brave people worked to save art stolen during the war. The painting was safely returned to Poland in 1946. Today, it is a treasured part of Poland's national heritage.
Images for kids
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Detail of the lady's head
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Detail of the ermine
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The Ermine Hunt (c. 1490), a pen and ink drawing by Leonardo da Vinci
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"Monuments Men" – Frank P. Albright, Everett Parker Lesley, Joe D. Espinosa – and Polish liaison officer Karol Estreicher pose with the painting upon its return to Poland in April 1946.
See also
In Spanish: La dama del armiño para niños
