Portrait of a Lady/The Lady with the Pearl Hairnet
Oil on panel, 51 x 34 cm, attributed to Leonardo da Vinci, or Giovanni Ambrogio De Predis, c. 1490
Pinacoteca Ambrosiana, Milan

This painting was first attributed to da Vinci by Cardinal Federico Borromeo, who described it as a portrait of the Duchess of Milan, and it had been assumed, without evidence, that he was referring to Beatrice d'Este. Scholars, however, have been divided on both the identity of the author and the sitter, with some attributing it to Giovanni Ambrogio De Predis, da Vinci's pupil, or suggesting it as a collaborative work between the two. It has been noted by some that there are stylistic similarities between the portraits of De Predis and da Vinci. However, da Vinci was a master of light and shadow, using sfumato to create a hazy, realistic effect. He was also deeply interested in anatomy and perspective, which led to his incredibly lifelike figures and landscapes. De Predis, on the other hand, leaned toward a more traditional style with clearer outlines and less dramatic lighting. He excelled at portraiture, capturing the likeness of his subjects, but without the same level of depth and psychological complexity found in da Vinci's work. The doubts cast on the painting's author and sitter have not diminished this work's appeal, but they have increased the mystery surrounding it.