Portrait of Renaissance Lady

Oil on canvas, 16” x 20”, 1993 Collection of the artist

This was the first painting that I ever did, and was inspired by my love of Renaissance portraiture, especially the work of Da Vinci, Rafael, and Botticelli. I later saw the beautiful oil painting, Girl with Cherries, by Italian High Renaissance Painter Giovanni Antonio Boltraffio, and was struck by how similar it was to my vision. I used a Pthalo green underpainting and glazed warm colors over it, to achieve the luminous quality of classical Renaissance technique. I wished to express power and wisdom through the lady’s eyes, and I believe my perseverance and determination in creating this painting, in the end, is reflected in her aspect and her stare.