Why it matters
The sitter of this Leonardo portrait is still a mystery. Its title, used since the 17th century, suggests the wife of an ironmonger; later she was identified as Lucrezia Crivelli, and a 2011 exhibition proposed Beatrice d'Este, Duchess of Milan.
Did you know?
- It is also known as Portrait of an Unknown Woman.
- A ferronnière is also a type of jewelled band worn across the forehead.
- Leonardo's Lady with an Ermine was once confused with it.
Based on the Wikipedia article La Belle Ferronnière (CC BY-SA 4.0).
