Art

Painted by Marco d’Oggiono, a close associate of Leonardo da Vinci’s in Milan, this picture combines elements of portraiture and allegory. The richly dressed female wearing an inscrutable smile is crowned with ivy and holds a bowl of cherries. The meaning is enigmatic: it may allude to marriage (ivy symbolized marital fidelity) but also suggests a connection with sophisticated literary circles. D’Oggiono built a successful career, first by working in Leonardo’s style and making copies after his paintings, later breaking away and crafting his own artistic identity.