Paola Adorno, Portrait of Paola Adorno, the daughter of Genoese Senator Giovanni Battista Adorno. She stands in three-quarter view looking directly at the viewer wearing an ornate costume complete with a large ruff. On her head, she wears a cap with feathers. To the left of the sitter is a chair with a parrot perched on the chair arm. Both the bird's fallen feathers (that lie on the floor) and the wilted rose in the sitter's hands allude to the fleeting nature of youth and beauty. The large interior space that Van Dyck creates marked with tall columns and draping curtains is reminiscent of Rubens's "Miracles of St. Ignatius." In the background, there appears to be a balcony and a skyscape., 1627

 Item — Box: 263
Identifier: spc-mss0088-s36-i0831

Staff Only
Paola Adorno, Portrait of Paola Adorno, the daughter of Genoese Senator Giovanni Battista Adorno. She stands in three-quarter view looking directly at the viewer wearing an ornate costume complete with a large ruff. On her head, she wears a cap with feathers. To the left of the sitter is a chair with a parrot perched on the chair arm. Both the bird's fallen feathers (that lie on the floor) and the wilted rose in the sitter's hands allude to the fleeting nature of youth and beauty. The large interior space that Van Dyck creates marked with tall columns and draping curtains is reminiscent of Rubens's "Miracles of St. Ignatius." In the background, there appears to be a balcony and a skyscape.

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Scope and Contents

Vanderbilt photo identifier: SC.MSS.088.FLEM.0800; Public Notes: The removal of overpaint affirmed that the painting is autograph and that assistants probably helped with the background. It is speculated that the bird was painted by Jan Roos.

Dates

  • Creation: 1627

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

This collection may be viewed only in the reading room of Special Collections in the Jean and Alexander Heard Library. Collections should be requested 2-3 days prior to visiting in order to facilitate easier access. For questions or to request a collection, contact specialcollections@vanderbilt.edu.

Biographical / Historical

Subjects: Parrots; Caps; Portraits; Ruffs; Roses; Curtains; Chairs; Columns; School: Flemish; Style period: Baroque; Technique: painting (technique); Work type: paintings

Full Extent

1 Items : Image Work Type: photographic print ; Image height (in.): 9.9; Image width (in.): 6.4in.

Language of Materials

From the Collection: English

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