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Portrait of a Lady

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Bookmark: https://collection.sdmart.org/objects-1/info/1089

Portrait of a Lady

Alessandro Allori , Italian (Florentine), (May 13, 1535–September 22, 1607)
Attributed to Alessandro Allori , Italian (Florentine), (May 13, 1535–September 22, 1607)
previously attributed to Angolo Bronzino (AKA Angelo di Cosimo Allori), Italian (Florentine), (1503–November 1572)

Creation date: ca. 1560
Creation place: Italy

Other Information

Type: Oil Painting
Medium and Support: Oil on panel
Credit Line: Museum purchase with funds provided by Anne R. and Amy Putnam
Accession Number: 1940.75
State/Province: Florence
Dimensions: 28 3/4 in. x 22 1/2 in. (73.03 cm x 57.15 cm)
Currently on view

Provenance

A. Wertheim, Paris, France ( - )

F. Kleinberger Galleries, Inc., New York, New York ( - 1937)

Jean Dollfus, Paris, France (1885 - April 2, 1912)

Bonneval, Paris, France (April 2, 1912 - )

Galerie Georges Petit, Paris, France (April 2, 1912 - April 2, 1912)

Arnold Seligman, Rey & Co., Inc., New York, New York (1937 - 1938)

Newhouse Galleries, Inc., New York, New York (1938 - October 31, 1940)

San Diego Museum of Art, San Diego, California (October 31, 1940 - )

Label Copy

The marble-smooth skin, detailed jewelry, and cool reserve of this portrait are all typical of Florentine art in the middle of the 16th century. The high-collared partlet dress worn by the woman points specifically to the years right around 1560, when such styles were briefly in fashion among the aristocratic women of Florence. Much about the portrait, however, remains mysterious. The inscription at upper right (A LWI) possibly relates to the painting's date (Anno 61). Another oddity is the painting’s degree of finish: some areas are highly detailed, but other sections seem barely worked up. It is possible that the panel was begun by one artist, left unfinished, and then brought to completion by another. This might also explain the difficulty in assigning the work to a specific painter. Once attributed to Agnolo Bronzino (1503–1572), the best known of the Florentine artists who worked in this highly mannered aesthetic, it is probably instead by Bronzino's pupil, Alessandro Allori.


The marble-smooth skin, detailed jewelry, and cool reserve of this portrait are all typical of Florentine art in the sixteenth century. The high-collared and lace topped dress worn by the woman points even more specifically to the years around 1560, when this style was briefly in fashion among the aristocratic women of Florence.
Much about the portrait, however, remains mysterious. The inscription at upper right is difficult to interpret and might be a later addition. The painting’s degree of finish is also odd: some sections are highly detailed, but others seem barely worked. The panel may have been begun by one artist, left unfinished, and then brought to completion by another. This might also explain the difficulty in assigning the work to a specific painter, although it is either by Alessandro Allori or another painter of his generation. -- Art of the Portrait 2023

Last Updated: 11/22/2023

Exhibition

This object was included in the following exhibitions:

Masterpieces of Art Art Associates, Inc. , 5/1/1940 - 10/31/1940

5 year loan to the new Timken Art Gallery , 9/2/1965 - 9/2/1970

In Quest of Excellence: An Inaugural Tribute , 10/27/1983 - 6/28/1984

Art of Portraits The San Diego Museum of Art , 1/27/2016 - 00/00/00

Bibliography

This object has the following bibliographic references:

Burton B. Fredericksen and Federico Zeri. Census of Pre-Nineteenth Century Italian Paintings Harvard University Press. Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1972
Page Number: 223

Julia Gethman Andrews (DUP). A Catalogue of European Paintings, 1300-1870 San Diego Museum of Art. San Diego, California, 1947
Page Number: 23, 24, Figure Number: 24

Burton B. Fredericksen and Federico Zeri. Census of Pre-Nineteenth Century Italian Paintings Harvard University Press. Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1972
Page Number: 517

Burton B. Fredericksen and Federico Zeri. Census of Pre-Nineteenth Century Italian Paintings Harvard University Press. Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1972
Page Number: 631

The Fine Arts Gallery of San Diego Catalogue: San Diego Museum of Art. San Diego, California, 1960
Page Number: 69, 70, Figure Number: 70

Agnes Mongan and Elizabeth Mongan. European Paintings in The Timken Art Gallery: Putnam Foundation. San Diego, California, 1969
Page Number: 34, 35, 111, Figure Number: 9

Masterpieces of Art: The Art News. New York, New York, 1939
Page Number: xvii, Figure Number: xvii

Walter Pach. Catalogue of European & American Paintings, 1500-1900 Art Aid Corporation. New York, New York, 1940
Page Number: 7, no. 6

5 Old Masters Acquired by the Fine Arts Society of San Diego, California San Diego Museum of Art. San Diego, California, November 14, 1940
Page Number: Bronzino

William R. Wilson. The Los Angeles Times Book of California Museums Harry N. Abrams, Incorporated. New York, New York, 1986
Page Number: 213, Figure Number: 259, 261

Edi Baccheschi. L'opera completa di Bronzino Rizzoli Editore. Milano, Italia, 1973
Page Number: 109 no. 170, Figure Number: 170

Frederick Mortimer Clapp. Jacopo Carucci da Pontormo, Junius Press. New York, New York, 1972
Page Number: 96 note 23

Mr. Charles Z. Offin, ed. Pictures on Exhibit Pictures Publishing Co.. New York, New York, January 1941
Page Number: cover, 10, Figure Number: cover

Les arts, Goupil et Cie. Paris, France, February 1904
Page Number: 8

St. Clair Temple. Alchemy a Passion for Jewels Harper Collins. 2008
Page Number: 82

Marks

Inscription, Upper right:

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