Noblewoman of Venice – 1581

A woman in the clothing of a Venetian noblewoman wears a sea-foam green brocade gown. Her sleeves are long and fitted with white, ruffled cuffs. Below each shoulder, at the upper sleeve, is a gathered band of gold adorned with pearls. The bodice is decorated with a gold band and black lapels. The bodice also features a strand of pearls, with an ornate square pendant of gold, rubies, and pearls; and is decollete and edged with a standing white, ruff. She wears a double strand pearl necklace with a ruby pendant and small jeweled pendant earrings. Her hair is worn up and held away from the face with a gold band. She wears a large, sheer, white veil on her head that creates a curved shell shape around her torso. She holds an orange and yellow feather fan with a wooden handle in her right hand.

Credit: The Claremont Colleges