Lady Lee (Margaret Wyatt, born about 1509)
Original title: Lady Lee (Margaret Wyatt, born about 1509)
kurzbeschreibung
Hans Holbein the Younger painted this portrait of Lady Lee, Margaret Wyatt, in the early 1540s. It is oil and gold on oak. The sitter is shown half-length against a dark ground, her hands folded, the right holding a gold object.
Description
A dark red gown with gold appliqués dominates the picture, with a pink flower at the chest. A black band set with pearls adorns her head. Above it is the Latin inscription 'ETATIS SVAE 34', giving her age as 34. Her face and hands are brightly lit, while the background remains dark blue. The layout is central and focused on the face and upper body.
Context
From 1536 Holbein served as court painter to Henry VIII of England. Margaret Wyatt was a lady-in-waiting and the sister of the poet Thomas Wyatt. In the early 1540s, when this portrait was made, Holbein painted many members of the English court. Stating the sitter's age in an inscription was a standard part of portraiture at the time.
Impact
The sitter's calm, frontal pose and the contrast between her bright face and the dark background give the image great presence. Fabrics and jewellery are carefully rendered, lending the view a noble, dignified air.
Technique
Oil and gold on oak form the base, a common support for 16th-century English panel painting. Holbein used glazes to achieve fine gradations in the flesh tones and fabrics; gold served him for the decorative details.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)