A Blonde Woman
- Artist: Palma Vecchio
- Date: about 1520
- Medium: oil on wood
- Museum: The National Gallery
- Collection record: The National Gallery website
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About this artwork
This is the "A Blonde Woman" by Palma Vecchio. Painted around 1520, it's a beautiful example of Venetian art from the early 1500s. The subject of this painting is a young woman who's unveiling her charms and offering us a posy of flowers.
Notice how she's dressed in a luxurious manner, with a loose chemise that's fallen from her shoulder to reveal her breast. The curve of her body is emphasized by the line of her blue silk ribbon. She's holding buttercups, primroses, and forget-me-nots, which echo the colors of her hair, breast, mantle, and ribbon.
The flowers may have a symbolic significance, representing things like love and memory. This type of image was common in Venice during this period, often featuring beautiful fair-haired women who aren't conventional portraits. In fact, Palma Vecchio is particularly associated with these types of paintings.
If you look closely, you might notice that the same woman seems to appear entirely naked in another painting by Palma Vecchio – "Venus and Cupid in a Landscape" in the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge. These images were often commissioned by collectors or courtesans as a way to showcase their beauty and charm.
The painting's use of rich colors and opulent textures adds to its sensuality and allure. It's almost like you can feel the cool linen of her chemise and the soft floss of her hair, and smell the scent of the fresh posy of flowers.
See it in person
A Blonde Woman hangs in The National Gallery on Trafalgar Square, London — free to enter. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
