Lady with an Ermine

Around 1489, a young woman named Cecilia Gallerani sat for Leonardo da Vinci while he was working at the court of Milan. She was the mistress of Ludovico Sforza, the city's powerful duke, and Leonardo painted her with a naturalness that was rare for the time. Her head turns to one side, as if she just heard someone walk in, and that simple movement makes her seem ready to speak. This is one of only a small number of portraits Leonardo ever completed, which makes it all the more special.

The soft white creature in her arms is an ermine, and it does more than fill space. The animal stood for purity, and it was also a personal emblem of the duke, who belonged to an order named after it. Some believe there is a hidden joke too, since the Greek word for ermine sounds close to Cecilia's family name. Leonardo's skill shows in the gentle way light falls across her face and hand, and in the careful strands of fur he painted on the animal.

As a piece of Italian Renaissance art, the portrait reaches for something beyond a good likeness. Leonardo seemed to want a hint of who Cecilia really was, her calm and her quiet confidence. The painting now lives in Krakow, Poland, where it stays a beloved example of the master's rare and thoughtful work.