Portrait of a Lady
- Artist: Attributed toBernardino Licinio (Artists)c.1489-a.1565 (Life dates)
- Date: (circa) 1545 - 1550
- Medium: oil on canvas
- Museum: The Courtauld Gallery
- Collection record: The Courtauld Gallery website
Listen to the free audio guide
About this artwork
This is the “Portrait of a Lady” by Bernardino Licinio, painted around 1545–1550. Licinio was an Italian painter who worked in the mid‑sixteenth century, and his work often shows a blend of late‑Renaissance detail with a touch of the emerging Mannerist style.
The canvas measures a modest size, typical of courtly portraits of the period, and the medium is oil on canvas—a choice that allowed for subtle layers of glaze and rich color saturation. In the painting, the lady is positioned slightly to the left, her gaze directed toward the viewer with an expression of calm confidence. Her dress is rendered in fine folds of linen and velvet, the colors muted but carefully differentiated by the play of light across the fabric. Licinio’s brushwork is meticulous: you can see individual strokes in the rendering of her jewelry, and the gentle shading around her face creates a soft three‑dimensional effect.
The background is deliberately simple—a plain, slightly darker tone that keeps the focus on the sitter. The use of light is very naturalistic; the light source appears to come from the left, casting delicate shadows that add depth without overpowering the delicate details.
Overall, this portrait captures a moment of dignified grace, while also showcasing Licinio’s skill in balancing realism with a subtle, almost painterly touch. The oil on canvas technique allows the colors to sit slightly translucent, giving the painting a gentle, timeless quality that still feels fresh today.
See it in person
Portrait of a Lady hangs in The Courtauld Gallery at Somerset House, London. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
