Portrait of a young woman in an ermine coat

The unrecognised young woman is shown in half length, with her head facing ¾ to the left, against a dark blue background. She has an oval face with long black hair falling down the back. A pearl earring can be seen in her left ear. She is wearing a brown gown with a deep neckline, decorated with white lace and precious stones. The woman's left arm is adorned with a round pearl brooch. A dark green coat lined with ermine fur is covering her back.

The ermine (or, in this case, its fur) symbolises nobility, courage and purity. In the Middle Ages and Renaissance, the nobility wore garments made from the animal's fur, making them a symbol of power and noble birth. This fur was also used to decorate royal coats. Sometimes the fact that the artist uses this motif may point to motherhood as something noble or indicate that the portrayed person is pregnant.

Yulia Dushka